Telangana seeks assured water allocation

Hyderabad: Telangana has made its stand clear before the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) on the importance of sharing river water in Krishna basin and hydel power generation requirements. “Hydel power generation is crucial since Telangana has more lift irrigation schemes and borewells,” a team of senior officials headed by Telangana Irrigation and Command Area […]

Hyderabad: Telangana has made its stand clear before the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) on the importance of sharing river water in Krishna basin and hydel power generation requirements.

“Hydel power generation is crucial since Telangana has more lift irrigation schemes and borewells,” a team of senior officials headed by Telangana Irrigation and Command Area Development Special Chief Secretary Rajat Kumar explained to the board.

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Rajat Kumar along with Engineer-in-Chief (General) C Muralidhar and other officials took part in the 15th meeting of the board chaired by its chairman MP Singh on the implementation of Centre’s gazette notification on taking over of projects in Telangana.

Rajat Kumar is reported to have requested proper allocations in Krishna water and questioned as to how the irrigation projects would be maintained and operated after taking them over from the State. Key issues pertaining to maintenance and operation costs and water release protocols were discussed at the meeting.

Stating that issues pertaining to power projects were not discussed at the meeting, Rajat Kumar told media later that Telangana had requested 574.5 TMC water and also decided to submit its arguments before the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal. Out of 811 TMC, Telangana has utilised 299 TMC while Andhra Pradesh utilised 512 TMC.

“We are not at all happy. We want assured water allocation,” he said, adding that Tuesday’s discussion was mainly focused on implementation of gazette notification from October 14.

A sub-committee, which was a part of KRMB, submitted proposals after a detailed study. The same proposals were also submitted to the board. “When the board sought our opinion on the proposals, we informed that the same will be forwarded to the State government,” he explained.

Meanwhile, the board clarified that the gazette notification would come into effect on October 14 and said that all the direct outlets (components) from the main reservoirs of Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar projects, which are listed under Schedule-II of the notification, may be prioritized by respective State governments for handing over to the Board by October 14.

The Board requested the two Telugu States to come forward to hand over the outlets – projects, canal systems, pump houses and regulators among others – so that their management can be taken over by it from October 14.

However, the two States did not give their consent for taking over the components formally. The board, it is learnt, has identified 29 components of five projects under its limits while it was not feasible in some places because of objections raised by the two States. Draft guidelines were also prepared for staff, offices and equipment project wise.

Sources said both Telangana and AP also agreed to handover DPRs of all projects in Krishna basin to the board. The two Telugu States were unwilling to handover their hydel stations and lift irrigation schemes taken up for diversion of Godavari to Krishna Basin to the board, it is learnt.

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