Taking exception to Telangana Government announcing two new irrigation projects, Andhra Pradesh Government on Thursday petitioned the Central Water Commission to restrain the former from undertaking any activity that was contrary to the mandate of AP Reorganisation Act, 2014.
In a letter to the CWC Chairman, the Principal Secretary to AP Government, Water Resources Department, referred to Telangana Government taking up Palamaru Rangareddy lift irrigation Scheme and Nakkalagandi Lift Irrigation Scheme on the surplus waters of River Krishna and said that unilaterally proceeding with the construction of any new project, pending adjudication of the references by Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II, without approval by Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) and the Apex Council will be tantamount to violation of principles laid down in the Act.
It said the term of KWDT-II has been extended by two years with effect from August 1, 2014 in terms of section 89 of AP Reorganisation Act and the Central Government made a reference to KWDT-II to make project-wise allocations among the party States. As the matter is pending before the tribunal and in view of the provisions of AP Reorganisation Act, it will be neither proper nor legal for Telangana State to proceed with construction of any new project without duly complying with the conditions stipulated in the Act.
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The letter urged CWC to advice Telangana State to place Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of the projects before KRMB, CWC and Apex Council for scrutiny and approval.
Meanwhile addressing a press conference here, Irrigation Minister Devineni Uma Maheshwara Rao, said that AP Government was not against Telangana taking up new projects, but they should be taken up by following rules. Seeking to know if clearances were obtained, he said the projects would jeopardise the interests of Nalgonda and Khammam in Telangana and Krishna and Prakasam districts in AP.
Questioning whose interests Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao wanted to damage, he demanded that the Telangana government take up projects in accordance with the provisions of AP Reorganisation Act. Who gave Mr. Rao the right to reduce the existing ayacut, he asked.
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Mr.Uma Maheshwara Rao maintained that Pattiseema project taken up by AP government was part of the multi-purpose Polavaram project, which was cleared by CWC.