Amid allegations of illegal drawing of waters from projects, the Krishna River Water Management Board (KRMB) today took a decision to release 6 TMCs of water to Telangana and 16 TMCs to Andhra Pradesh for drinking purpose.
The 3-member KRMB committee held a meeting at Jala Saudha and discussed the charges and demands of the two states. The Board then allotted 6 TMC against the demand of Telangana for 40.1 TMC, and 16 TMC to Andhra Pradesh against the demand of 17 TMC.
KRMB Member Secretary Samir Chatterjee chaired the meeting attended by the ENCs of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Muralidhar and Venkateshwar Rao respectively, and other officials.
The board, which taken a decision to release waters for now as above, said that it would discuss related issues during the next round of the meeting in the second week of October.
Chatterjee took exception to Andhra Pradesh for drawing waters against norms. The governments ought to take permission before taking a decision to draw waters from the combined projects, he said. He however added that the board had no powers to direct the states on the use of the waters. He opnied that combined projects should be brought under board's purview to avoid problems.
However, the officials of Andhra Pradesh maintained that they drew only waters already allocated to the state.
Chatterjee also directed the releasing of 14 TMC of water from Srisailam to Nagarjuna Sagar.
filed in:Telangana, Water Issues, Water Projects, Water Wars, KRMB