Andhra Pradesh, Telangana set for a fresh showdown on water TNN | Jan 25, 2015, 01.10AM IST Whatsapp Facebook Google Plus TwitterEmailLinkedin Text resize:AAA HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are set for a showdown on the sharing of water for the rabi season with both of them petitioning the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) to settle the row in a weeks time. While Telangana sought the intervention of the KRMB in a written communication to its secretary R K Gupta on Friday, Andhra Pradesh conveyed its concern orally to the Centre on Saturday. It is time the Centre intervenes as the mindless release of water from Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar by the two states could lead to a major drinking water crisis for both of them in the coming days, said sources. The two reservoirs at present have about 130 tmc (thousand million cubic feet) of water. Citing the rabi season and drinking needs, Telangana has sought 125 tmc of water and AP 110 tmc until there are fresh inflows during the monsoon. But with the current water levels in the two reservoirs being a little over half of what is being sought by the two states, the Centre has been given the tough task of settling the dispute. We need to give the water release schedule to the farmers. Hence, the deadline of seven days, irrigation officials of the two states said. While Telangana has been releasing about 8,000 cusecs of water everyday at Srisailam to generate power, both AP and Telangana have been together releasing around 15,000 cusecs of water at Nagarjunasagar. And in a tit for tat, AP, which initially offered to forgo the rabi crop, changed its mind after Telangana said it will go ahead with the second crop and decided to follow suit. Even as the two states are continuing with the release of water for various purposes from the two reservoirs, the blame game too has been on. At this rate of release, the water available in both the reservoirs will only last till February. How will we cater to the water needs in March and April? said AP irrigation minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao and squarely blamed Telangana for the crisis. But his Telangana counterpart T Harish Rao shot back and charged AP with imposing its decisions on the new state. How can the AP government dictate terms to Telangana even after bifurcation? AP already used its quota of water from both the reservoirs while we have to provide water to Nalgonda and Khammam districts in the coming days, said Harish Rao. Now, both the states are expecting a verdict from KRMB in a weeks time. Based on the KRMB decision, AP and Telangana are to decide on the water supply for agriculture. Sources in the KRMB said the Centre will most likely seek the opinion of the Union law ministry on the issue. RELATED Andhra Pradesh complains to Krishna River Management Board against Telangana Power row: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana to put forth more demands Japan set to invest in Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh to replace ‘Amma Hastam’ Winter begins in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
Posted on: Sun, 25 Jan 2015 04:31:12 +0000
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