The Krishna River Water Management Board on Thursday notified water allocation in the Krishna between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana which will get 512 tmcft and 299 tmcft respectively, out of the total assured water of 811 tmcft in the river for both States.
The board meeting at New Delhi under the aegis of Union Water Resources Ministry also notified that the share of water of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana at Nagarjunasagar project will be 164 tmcft and 100 tmcft respectively. According to available information, no decision was taken on allocation of water from Srisailam project. The notification also said Prakasam barrage was allocated 181.2 tmcft for Krishna delta for the year.
A working group comprising the Chief Engineers of irrigation of both States will be constituted to monitor water releases from different projects on a regular basis. The allocation of water from Krishna had been the bone of contention between the two States last year and there were apprehensions that the situation would be no different this year in view of the deficit monsoon forecast by India Meteorological Department. In addition to the irrigation requirements, the two projects Nagarjunasagar and Srisailam are major a source of power generation for Telangana.
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The situation turned violent on Nagarjunasagar dam with the police of both the States clashing over lifting of sluice gates for release of water downstream. The issue subsided with the intervention of the Governor, who mediated talks between the Chief Ministers.
The latest allocation of water assumed significance in the background of Telangana government laying foundation stones for two new projects – Palamuru–Ranga Reddy and Nakkalagandi lift-irrigation schemes – on Krishna. The AP government is going ahead with Pattiseema project on Godavari to reduce the pressure on Krishna delta and ensure release of water to Rayalaseema. But, the Telangana government has demanded compensation for diverting Godavari water to Krishna basin. The meeting witnessed heated arguments between officials of the States on the new projects in the presence of the Additional Secretary of the Ministry Amarjit Singh.
They cited how projects in each other’s States were illegal. To take a view on the objections raised, it was decided to continue the meeting on Friday.
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AP allocated 512 tmcft and TS 299 tmcft, working group of irrigation engineers to monitor releases