VIJAYAWADA: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam will meet his Andhra Pradesh counterpart N. Chandrababu Naidu at the Interim Government Complex (IGC) at Velagapudi, near here, on Thursday to discuss sharing of Telugu Ganga waters.
Four days ago, Mr. Panneerselvam wrote to Mr. Naidu seeking release of water to Chennai from Telugu Ganga project. Following which, Mr. Naidu invited him, sources say, to visit Amaravati to have further discussion on the subject. The duo is likely to discuss on water sharing and amount due from Tamil Nadu to Andhra Pradesh.
Tamil Nadu owes over Rs. 400 crore to Andhra Pradesh as the former’s share in the Telugu Ganga project. “This agreement over cost-sharing dates back to the time of NTR-MGR. Tamil Nadu still owes us over Rs. 400 crore, and we will request the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister to release that amount,” said Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu.
Probably, this is the first time a Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu is coming to Andhra Pradesh for a discussion on Telugu Ganga waters. With drinking water crisis escalating, Mr. Panneerselvam, in his letter, requested Mr. Naidu to take steps to release water immediately from river Krishna honouring the 1983 inter-state agreement.
Bone of contention
Sharing of waters from Telugu Ganga project has become a bone of contention soon after the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in 2014. Though the entire Telugu Ganga Project is under Andhra Pradesh territory, the water for Tamil Nadu is released from Srisailam reservoir, in which Telangana too has its share. Telangana should agree to give water to Chennai as it has to bear half of the share to be contributed by undivided Andhra Pradesh.
The AP Reorganisation Act 2014 does not explicitly say or define about the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana share in water to be released to Chennai through the Telugu Ganga project. The clause 10 of Schedule XI of the Act merely says, “Following irrigation projects which are under construction shall be completed as per the plan notified in existing state of Andhra Pradesh and water sharing agreements shall continue. Handri Neeva, Telugu Ganga, Galeru Nagari, Kalwakurthi, Venugodu and Nettempadu..”
As per the agreement between combined Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu on April 18, 1983, 8 tmcft of Krishna water is to be supplied to Chennai between July and October and another 4 tmcft from January to April.
