Telangana: Inflows into Krishna projects touch zero, KRMB to focus on water preservation now

Alarmed by the continued drawls without proportionate replenishment, the KRMB has directed both states to stop water diversions from the two reservoirs. The board also wants the states to reduce water usage from the projects for hydropower generation.

Hyderabad: With inflows into Krishna river projects dropping to zero, the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) has shifted its focus to conservation. The river provided ample water yields this year, and almost all the projects were surplus, with reservoirs remaining full until the end of October. Despite extensive drawls by the lower riparian states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, adequate inflows kept the reservoirs brimming.

But in the past two weeks, reservoir levels have been on the decline. The gross storage in Srisailam has depleted by 23%, and Nagarjuna Sagar by 5% ahead of preparatory operations for the Yasangi season. Alarmed by the continued drawls without proportionate replenishment, the KRMB has directed both states to stop water diversions from the two reservoirs. The board also wants the states to reduce water usage from the projects for hydropower generation.

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This time, KRMB has been more vocal about the inter-basin transfer of water from Srisailam to the Rayalaseema region via the Pothireddypadu Head Regulator. It has written to the Engineering-in-Chiefs (ENCs) of both states in this regard. However, Telangana irrigation officials sounded sceptical of the KRMB’s approach, suggesting that police support may be needed to regulate water withdrawals at Krishna projects.

A senior official mentioned that Telangana’s water utilization from the Krishna River has been less than 30 TMC so far, whereas Andhra Pradesh has used more than 200 TMC, highlighting the disparity in drawls.

With the monsoons retreating, no further rains are expected in the catchment areas unless there is a cyclone in December. In a letter addressed to the Special Chief Secretary of the Andhra Pradesh Water Resources Department and the Secretary of the Telangana Irrigation Department, the KRMB emphasized the need to preserve water reserves in the Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar reservoirs for drinking and irrigation purposes until the next monsoon season.

The KRMB reminded the states that, according to Schedule-11 of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, the lowest priority should be given to hydropower generation from the common reservoirs. It highlighted the urgent need to conserve water in the reservoirs to meet the drinking water needs of districts such as Mahabubnagar and Ranga Reddy, and for essential supply to Rayalaseema and Chennai.

The storage in the Srisailam project has dropped from 215 TMC to 166 TMC in less than a month. Similarly, Nagarjuna Sagar’s current storage has decreased to 300 TMC from 312 TMC. The inflows into the projects are essentially zero. The KRMB is likely to meet next week to discuss these core issues.

KRMB has mandated that a minimum water reserve must be maintained in the Srisailam reservoir for at least six months until the expected floods in July or August next year.