AP, Telangana Intensify Fight For Waters

A slugfest is continuing between the two Telugu states over the sharing of the Krishna and the Godavari waters.

The Jagan government of Andhra Pradesh complained to the Godavari River Management Board against the KCR government constructing some projects on the river "by violating the norms".

AP officials also complained to the KRMB (apart from to the GRMB) that Telangana had violated the rules by increasing the heights of projects including Kaleshwaram to draw 450 TMC instead of 225 TMC, and Seetarama to draw 100 TMC instead of 70 TMC.

The officials alleged that Telangana did not get any permission from the KMRB and the apex body to increase the heights of some of the projects.

They also said that the Palamur - Ranga Reddy project, and the works at Jurala and Nettempadu for more waters, were also against norms.

The officials said that the KCR government was ignoring the plight of the downstream states.

They also claimed that out of the 880 cusecs storage in the Srisailam project, AP was entitled to draw 440 cusecs of waters to irrigate crops in Prakasham and Nellore districts.

AP Special Secretary for Irrigation Adithyanath Das and Engineer-in-Chief Narayan Reddy called on KMRB and GMRB chief Chandrasekhar Iyer in Hyderabad and made these complaints.

However, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao reacted that the Godavari waters could be used by both the states.

"We will protect our interests by moving court if necessary," he said.

For those who came in late, after the Telangana government had complained against Pothireddypadu, the KMRB had snubbed the Jagan government for its GO 203 to draw waters from the Srisailam project through Pothireddypadu.