The State government is likely to make a strong pitch for interlinking of Himalayan rivers with the south to meet water shortage that may arise in the future.
Diversion of Himalayan rivers through the Manas-Teestha-Ganga-Mahanadi link to south India would enable harnessing over 930 tmcft of water and this would also facilitate the formation of a southern water grid. This, in turn, would pave the way to address the water shortage faced by four southern States - Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu - due to low water levels in the Krishna river.
Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao is expected to raise the issue during a meeting of Irrigation Ministers from the southern States being held here on Tuesday. The meeting would be chaired by Union Minister of State for Water Resources Arjun Ram Meghwal.
The meeting is expected to deliberate on the interlinking of Godavari and Cauvery rivers and the State is accordingly preparing a presentation on its stand. The State had already conveyed its reservations on the proposed diversion of Godavari water to Cauvery delta as it was not in the interests of Telangana.
Mr. Harish Rao is also expected to reiterate the State’s demand for according the Kaleshwaram project a national project status, besides presenting a strong case for finalising Telangana’s share in Krishna and Godavari rivers. The present allocation of 299 tmcft from Krishna to Telangana was just a working arrangement and firm allocation is yet to be made to the State even four years after its formation.
The government would insist on assured allocations before taking steps to determine the jurisdiction of the Krishna and Godavari river management boards.
The State, according to sources, is treading cautiously on arguments put forth by Andhra Pradesh. AP supports the diversion of Godavari water to Cauvery as it claims there is enough water available, but opposes the Kaleshwaram project on the ground that there is not enough water available.
The government would also insist that steps be taken for allotting Telangana its fair share of the Polavaram project, while pressing for making public details of minor irrigation projects in Andhra Pradesh.
The government is firm that the operation protocol of common reservoirs would not be effectively implemented as long as details of allocations for downstream projects are not revealed.
