The Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) has allowed Andhra Pradesh and Telangana States to utilise 17.09 tmc ft and 17.90 tmc ft, respectively for the month of February, a total of 34.99 tmc ft, from the common reservoirs — Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar — for their irrigation and drinking water needs.
As per the river board’s data, AP has utilised 211.64 tmc ft and Telangana 75.61 tmc ft till February 7 during the 2017-18 water year. The two States have agreed at the board’s seventh meeting held in November last to share the Krishna waters in the ratio of 66:34, excluding utilisation under minor irrigation and diversion of Godavari waters to the Krishna Basin.
Available water
The river board has assessed, based on the data available with it, that the quantum of water available for utilisation by the two States as on February 7 at 71.31 tmc ft, taking into account the minimum draw down levels in the two common reservoirs. The river board has issued the water release order on Thursday, based on the indents placed by the two States during the week.
According to the data of the river board, AP has 73.68% and Telangana 26.32% water out of 287.25 tmc ft availed by the two States from the common reservoirs till February 7 this year including the ratification of excess drawls made by them in addition to the indents approved prior to the fresh water release order.
The fresh indents approved by the river board includes 0.5 tmc ft to Pothireddypadu head regulator, 4 tmc ft to Handri Neeva and Muchumarri lift schemes, 10.50 tmc ft to Nagarjunasagar right canal and 2.09 tmc ft to Nagarjunasagar left canal for AP. The board has approved 2.09 tmc ft to the left canal against 4 tmc ft sought by the State.
Approved usage
Similarly, the river board has approved indents for 2.5 tmc ft to Kalwakurthy lift scheme, 4.4 tmc ft to Alimineti Madhava Reddy Project and Hyderabad Water and 11 tmc ft to Nagarjunsagar left canal.
The board stated that the utilisation of 32.22 tmc ft to the left canal till February 7 was as per data of Telangana and suggested the two States to reconcile the usage under the left canal.
Member Secretary of the river board A. Paramesham stated that the approved indents for February could be met by releasing 26 tmc ft water from Srisailam to Nagarjunasagar through the right bank power house, so as to maintain 520 feet level in Nagarjunasagar. He also suggested the two States to avail water through the left canal at a time to minimise losses.
