Telangana wants share in Polavaram waters

Telangana wants share in Polavaram waters
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The Telangana government on Monday demanded its share in Polavaram and Pattiseema waters before the A K Bajaj committee constituted by the Centre to find a solution to the contentious problem of sharing Krishna waters.

​Hyderabad: The Telangana government on Monday demanded its share in Polavaram and Pattiseema waters before the A K Bajaj committee constituted by the Centre to find a solution to the contentious problem of sharing Krishna waters.

Making a power point presentation before the committee, Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao and officials said Telangana looks towards them with great expectations for ad-hoc allotment in Krishna waters and a share in Polavaram and Pattiseema diversion by AP.

Telangana, being the successor state, is entitled for its rightful share in these waters, the officials of the Irrigation department told the committee. Assuring the committee of extending its full cooperation and provide available information to the committee, they said a working arrangement by the committee will be a trendsetter.

The officials further said that till formal allocation to Telangana is made, the ratio of 299 and 512 (excluding Godavari diversion) be maintained in water allocation from common projects as en bloc.

The share of Godavari diversion will be over and above the said ratio, they added and submitted a detailed report on the injustice meted out to Telangana since 1956 on the water allocation.

They told the committee that Telangana got a mere 299 TMC of water and the AP has been given 512 TMC from the total allocation of 811 TMC because the then government in undivided Andhra Pradesh had furnished false information regarding the requirement of water for irrigation and drinking water purposes in Telangana region. The officials argued that Telangana deserved more water allocations in view of increased water requirement.

Since the two state governments entered into a temporary agreement on water allocations at 299:512 ratio in 2015, the officials requested the committee to prepare ‘operational protocol’ for the judicious utilization of assured waters in the coming days.

The government strongly objected the inclusion of Jurala project under the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) constituted to address water dispute between two states after the bifurcation.

The officials demanded to bring Pulichintala and Sunkesula under the purview of KRMB to justify the water utilisation.

Speaking to newsmen after the meeting, Bajaj assured that the interests of Telangana would be protected in the water allocations and utilisation.

He said the allocation of water between the two states would remain unchanged until the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal delivers its verdict on the contentious issue.

The committee will be visiting Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday to hear their views. He said the committee members will also visit the projects as part of their tour in the two states.

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