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Andhra Pradesh
By M. Malleswara Rao
Andhra Pradesh has cited 11 new violations by Karnataka covering four rivers, the Chitravathi on which Paragodu is being constructed, Pennar, Papagni and the Jayamangali. The violations relate to either construction of anicuts or enlargement of existing reservoirs/tanks based on these rivers, depriving Andhra Pradesh of its due share, top irrigation officials alleged here today. However, Karnataka has taken the stand that the constructions are "well within its rights'' and rejected repeated pleas by Andhra Pradesh on two other matters — a survey on the high-level Parallel Canal from the Tungabhadra dam proposed to compensate the loss suffered by A.P. due to reduced reservoir capacity on account of siltation and repairs to the Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme for ensuring sufficient inflows into A.P. The "grievances'' of the State have been briefed to K. Parasaran and A.K. Ganguly, senior counsel in the Supreme Court who had argued for the State in the Almatti case, and a petition against Paragodu and connected matters is likely to be filed before the apex court in a couple of days. About the 1892 Madras-Mysore Agreement cited by Andhra Pradesh as binding on both States under which Paragodu is being shown as a violation, Karnataka has taken the stand that Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka are not the successor States of Madras and Mysore and that they are separate entities today. This was the reason why the Cauvery Tribunal was formed replacing the 1892 accord, covering not only the Cauvery but also other inter-State rivers. Karnataka has asked Andhra Pradesh to approach the Cauvery Tribunal with regard to Paragodu and refused to react further saying Paragodu is sub-judice in the light of the existence of the Cauvery Tribunal. Andhra Pradesh feels it should approach the Supreme Court for a solution in respect of the 11 violations and Paragodu. The officials recalled that the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, had addressed a dozen letters to his Karnataka counterpart seeking justice but the response was "nil till date.'' The Union Government, when approached, referred such matters to the Southern Zonal Council which, in turn, formed a committee of chief engineers headed by the one from the Central Water Commission to resolve the issues but the outcome was negative. A.P. proposed the Parallel Canal to avoid loss from the Tungabhadra Dam but when the matter was introduced at a recent meeting of the Tungabhadra Board, representatives from Karnataka opposed it outright. The Board, consisting of representatives from the Union Government, had to adopt a resolution against the canal. "Unless there is a consensus among the two parties, the Central representatives will not be able to do anything,'' the State Government was told. Another bone of contention is the left bank canal of the dam which completely flows in Karnataka. Of the Tungabhadra dam network, this is the only canal which today remains outside the purview of the Board. A complaint by Andhra Pradesh against this canal is that Karnataka is resorting to overdrawing water from this canal. When A.P. pleaded for bringing the canal under the control of TB Board, the Bachawat Tribunal pleaded inability saying that the Board was constituted by a Presidential order which did not include the canal in the Board's purview and that it was not competent enough to make any recommendation. Having no other alternative, Andhra Pradesh recently listed this matter in its petition before the Centre pleading for a fresh tribunal for Krishna waters. Andhra Pradesh is also feeling "cheated'' over the Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme through which it is getting "only'' 8 to 10 tmcft of water instead of 15.9 tmcft as allocated. The State asked Karnataka to repair the canal's upper reaches for ensuring better inflows into Andhra Pradesh, offering to bear the entire cost, but Katnataka did not come out positively on this. Officials said that Karnataka was drawing 5 to 7 tmcft instead of its share of 1.2 tmcft.
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