KRMB procedure erroneous: Telangana expert committee

Hyderabad: An expert committee constituted by the State government to study the proposals of Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) unanimously felt that the entire methodology considered in developing the rule curves was erroneous as it does not comply with the provisions of Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-I (KWDT-I) (Bachawat) Award. The committee, which met on Wednesday, […]

Hyderabad: An expert committee constituted by the State government to study the proposals of Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) unanimously felt that the entire methodology considered in developing the rule curves was erroneous as it does not comply with the provisions of Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-I (KWDT-I) (Bachawat) Award.

The committee, which met on Wednesday, examined the rule curves and operation protocols pertaining to Srisailam reservoir furnished by the KRMB. The committee was set up to study the proposals of KRMB vis-a-vis the implementation of the Central government notification taking control of the projects on Krishna and Godavari basins. In a letter to the Board Chairman MP Singh, Special Chief Secretary (Irrigation) Rajat Kumar drew his attention to certain parts of KWDT-I Award which clearly state: “The Srisailam project being a hydro-electric project for generating power without diverting water to another watershed does not involve consumptive use of water except for evaporation loss.”

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‘Water allocation under KWDT-II purview’

Hyderabad: The Special Chief Secretary (Irrigation), Rajat Kumar said that neither KRMB nor the Central government has the power to reinterpret the provisions of the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-I (KWDT-I). In a letter to the Board Chairman MP Singh, he stated that the allocation of Krishna river water was under the consideration of KWDT-II. Till the KWDT-II decides the allocations, the KWDT-I Award has to be followed in letter and spirit for sharing Krishna river waters, he asserted.

Therefore, the rule curves in respect of Srisailam reservoir has to restrict consumptive use by AP to 34 TMC, which is the maximum drawal that can be permitted as per inter-State agreement and Planning Commission approval. Taking seven-year data from 2014-15 onwards for working out the average utilisations is not only in violation of the Award but will also serve to strengthen the illegitimate claims of Andhra to transfer Krishna waters to outside the basin through Pothireddypadu Head Regulator and Handri-Neeva Sujala Sravanth (HNSS), Rajat Kumar pointed out.

Further, it was necessary to have an integrated rule curve for both Nagarjuna Sagar Project (NSP) and Srisailam hydro-electric project, as NSP does not have any catchment area of its own and it is a critical source of agriculture, industrial and drinking water requirements for both the States.

“The major source of water for NSP is the release from Srisailam reservoir. It is also necessary to make provision for carry-over storage in the rule curves for both reservoirs as it is the mandate of the Award. I, therefore, request you to make necessary corrections in the rule curves/operating procedures duly incorporating the provisions of KWDT-I Award,” Rajat Kumar said.

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