Telangana complains to KRMB against AP’s unauthorized projects

Hyderabad: Telangana complained to Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) against unauthorized projects of Andhra Pradesh including Muchamarri Lift Irrigation Scheme (LIS), Malyala pumping system and escape regulator from Pothireddipadu head regulator to feed KC canal to outside basin. In letter to the Board Chairman, Telangana Irrigation and Command Area Development (CAD) Engineer-in-Chief (General) C Muralidhar […]

Hyderabad: Telangana complained to Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) against unauthorized projects of Andhra Pradesh including Muchamarri Lift Irrigation Scheme (LIS), Malyala pumping system and escape regulator from Pothireddipadu head regulator to feed KC canal to outside basin.

In letter to the Board Chairman, Telangana Irrigation and Command Area Development (CAD) Engineer-in-Chief (General) C Muralidhar requested the board to restrain AP from operating these projects in violation of Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-I (KWDT-I) and update the data related to utilizations by KC canal.

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He explained how the then AP violated the interstate agreements and increased its share of KC canal from 10 TMC to 39.9 TMC and later how it started drawing water from Krishna River at Srisailam reservoir.

He also explained how illegal drawls from Srisailam reservoir were gradually expanded by lowering the control levels from 885 ft above (Pothireddypadu Head Regulator) to 833 ft level above (Malayala Pump house of HNSS LIS) and further to 798 ft level above (Muchumarri Pump House of KC canal LIS and Handri-Niva Sujala Sravanthi (HNSS) LIS).

He requested to restrain AP from drawing water from Srisailam reservoir as per KWDT-I Award and confine it to its earmarked share of 31.9 TMC till KWDT-II finalizes its decision. However, so far, there is no initiation taken by KRMB.

Muralidhar requested the Board to take immediate action on following issues. Citing modernization of KC canal system, the then AP has reallocated the savings of eight TMC out of 39.9 TMC to other projects and subsequently it is entitled for 31.9 TMC only. Hence, the regulated release from Tungabhadra dam should also be reduced proportionately from 10 TMC to eight TMC thereby allowing the remaining two TMC to flow to Krishna River.

Whenever AP swaps a part of river assistance to KC canal to Tungabhadra Right Bank High Level Canal (TRBHLC) and Low Level Canals (TBPRBHLC/LLC), the share of KC canal has to be reduced accordingly. It is to be noted that during this water year, AP swapped four TMC of KC canal river assistance to TBP canals. KC Canal is entitled to utilize limited water from Tungabhadra River, which should contribute substantial flows to Krishna, as per KWDT-I Award and it cannot utilize water from Krishna River.

Presently, AP is supplying water to the KC canal from other sources namely Pothireddypadu Head Regulator, HNSS LIS at Malyala and HNSS LIS & KC canal LIS at Muchummari. Since these supplies are against the spirit of KWDT-II Award, the board must restrain such unauthorized drawls. Muralidhar said Guru Raghavendra LIS consisting of 12 pump houses on Tungabhadra right bank spanning from RDS anicut to Sunkesula barrage also drawing 5.373 TMC apart from other lifts which are all unauthorized constructions and need to be immediately stopped.

“We request the board to account for all the drawls against utilizations of KC canal and TBPRBLLC respectively. That is why Telangana is requesting to install real time sensors to be placed at all the drawl points from Srisailam reservoir,” he said

Therefore, KRMB must study the issues and take immediate action on all the issues to restrict KC canal not to utilize more than 31.9 TMC, maintain proper data and accounting of utilizations and thereby enabling Telangana to utilize its rightful share from Tungabhadra and Krishna Rivers.

 

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