Jagan Regime Flays KCR Over Water Sharing Again

The Andhra Pradesh government today launched a bitter attack against Telangana, alleging that the actions of the neighbouring state's administration had led to a drop in the water levels in the reservoirs of the Srisailam project.

AP irrigation department secretary Shyamal Rao first told the media that the state was happy that the Centre had released a notification delineating the jurisdiction of the Krishna and Godavari River Management Boards (KRMB and GRMB) and had transferred the operation of all projects, including hydel power ones, to the two boards.

Talking further about the notification, which will come into effect from October 14, the official said that it contained some errors and added that the AP government would urge the Centre to correct the same.

Rao then addressed the water row and thundered, "It is acceptable to generate hydroelectricity after enough water has been released for the agricultural sector. Priority should be given to providing water for irrigation and not for the generation of power. The permission of the KRMB must also be sought before starting such generation. Telangana meanwhile has been generating power for the last 45 days at the Srisailam, Nagarjuna Sagar, and Pulichinthala projects. As against the existing 30.38 tmc of water of the Srisailam reservoir, the state has used up 29.82 tmc only on power generation. The water level at Srisailam is now just about 806.8 feet. There is no scope to draw water from the Pothireddypadu head regulator as at least 854 feet of water is needed in Srisailam for this. The 8 tmc released from Pulichinthala was also wasted in the ocean."

He alleged that Telangana had used a total of 66 tmc of water since June and that AP Chief Minsiter Y S Jaganmohan Reddy had lodged a complaint over this "misuse of water" with the Centre and Prime Minister Modi, and had filed a petition in the Supreme Court as well.