Stop AP from diverting water from Srisailam: Telangana to KRMB
Hyderabad: The Telangana State government has requested the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) not to permit any water to be diverted from Srisailam reservoir till the entire in-basin needs are met and that too only after Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar Project (NSP) start spilling.
In a letter to KRMB Chairman, C Muralidhar, Engineer-in-Chief (General), Irrigation and Command Area Development, said the maximum power generation may be allowed from Srisailam left power house, NSP and Pulichinthala power houses to meet its power exigencies in the wake of demand from lift irrigation schemes and borewells for irrigation needs in the State.
He also requested the Board to follow water sharing arrangement of Krishna water in 50:50 ratio from this water year and also restrain Andhra Pradesh from diverting Krishna water to outside the basin before meeting in-basin needs fully.
Muralidhar said AP had already resorted to release of water from Pothireddypadu Head Regulator and Handri Neeva Sujala Sravanthi (HNSS) from July 25, 2021, as seen from the Reservoir Storage Monitoring System (RSMS) data on July 26. The KRMB communicated AP’s letter the same day seeking permission to utilise water from Srisailam right bank power house and requested Telangana government to furnish its views and comments.
“So far, Telangana has not received any requisition from the KRMB for releases from Pothireddypadu Head Regulator. Hence, AP is conveniently trying to seek permission though it is actually already diverting water,” he said.
“AP should be informed to allow power generation from the right power sluice and restrained from releasing water through PRP without consent from three members committee. In this connection, as already informed, Srisailam is basically a hydroelectric project to generate power to meet irrigation requirements of NSP,” Muralidhar said.
Keeping the inflow pattern in Krishna basin in mind, power generation may be resorted to full extent feasible to derive maximum benefits. Clause C(1) of 12th Schedule of Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act (APRA)-2014 states that the units of APGenco should be divided based on geographical location of power plants.
As such Telangana has been generating hydel power from Srisailam reservoir for the past few weeks by releasing water so as to meet the drinking water requirements of Hyderabad and irrigation requirements of NSP, he said.
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