Water diverted from Godavari not sufficient for Krishna Delta, says expert

New proposals to divert Godavari water, Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal told

The diversion of water from Godavari basin to the Krishna basin has to be considered while working out an operational protocol based on the principles of Tungabhadra model for water management in all projects in the States of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh during the deficit years.

This was suggested by AP’s witness before the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal (KWDT-II) M. Viseveswara Rao, a retired irrigation engineer, during the tribunal hearing in New Delhi on Wednesday.

He was cross-examined by senior counsel appearing for Telangana C.S. Vaidyanathan for the second day on Wednesday.

During the cross-examination, Mr. Rao, while responding to a poser that supplementation to Krishna Delta from Nagarjunasagar may not be required in future, stated that about 20 tmc ft water has to be supplemented even after diversion of 80 tmc ft from Polavaram and utilisation of another 53 tmc net flows available downstream of Pulichintala reservoir.

“The additional diversion from Godavari at Polavaram to an extent of 80 tmc ft is to be accounted for the areas above Nagarjunasagar including 21 tmc ft for Karnataka, 14 tmc ft to Maharashtra and 45 tmc ft above Nagarjunasagar (in Telangana). The 80 tmc ft being supplied to Krishna Delta from Nagarjunasagar now will be supplied from Polavaram,” the AP’s witness explained to the tribunal.

Diversion of water

(Andhra Pradesh is already diverting Godavari water to Krishna basin with the help of Pattiseema lift irrigation project even without completion of Polavaram. According to official statistics, over 120 tmc ft water was diverted during the last water year alone. A year before, the diversion was to the tune of 59 tmc ft.)

Mr. Visveswara Rao admitted before the tribunal that he was aware of AP’s plans to meet the part water requirements of Nagarjunasagar Left Canal command area with the help of Chintalapudi lift irrigation scheme and another scheme to meet the substantial water requirement of Nagarjunasagar Right Canal command area, both with Godavari waters. However, he said he did not study the two proposals and he would respond after studying them.

Meanwhile, the tribunal posted the further cross-examination of Mr. Visveswara Rao from October 3 to 5 and fixed the next hearing from November 28 to 30.