The Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) permitted conditional generation of power in the Srisailam reservoir till November 2.
The Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) on Friday permitted conditional generation of power in the Srisailam reservoir till November 2.
"Having heard the views of both the sides and considering the current storage in the Srisailam reservoir, and also pending working out the modalities of the integrated operation of the Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar on long-term basis and in order to address the immediate water and power requirements, it is directed that up to 2.11.2014, the water in Srisailam may be used optimally in such a way that drawing of water for power generation may not exceed 3 TMC up to 2.11.2014, after which the demand for power may go down," the KRMB said in its order on Friday.
The KRMB said that if required, the matter would be reviewed after November 15.
The KRMB said that the water and power requirements of both the States were shared by the States' representatives. On the basis of a note on October 21 from the Government of Andhra Pradesh, suggestions were made to the Government of Telangana stating that drinking and irrigation water requirements be given priority over other uses, and the existing water demands up to the end of the crop season be given priority.
Subsequently, the Government of Telangana on October 22 stated that the power generated from Srisailam may be treated on par with irrigation water requirements, and also cited that the Government of Andhra Pradesh was not providing the due share of power to the Government of Telangana.
"During the course of discussions, Engineer-in-Chief, Government of Telangana indicated that they are in dire need of power and due to which they are operating Srisailam Left Bank Power house as per their demand. However, it was also stated by them that the major requirement for power generation from Srisailam is largely up to November 28 to sustain the standing crops for pumping ground water, beyond which the power demands will get reduced considerably and also they will be operating Nagarjuna Sagar for power generation and the need of generating power at Srisailam may not arise thereafter for Wing period," the Board disclosed in its order.
It was brought in the notice of Board that for the rules of operation of the Srisailam Reservoir, the erstwhile State of Andhra Pradesh had issued different GOs. In the opinion of the Telangana State, these rules needed modifications due to the bifurcation of the State.
KRMB officials stated that for any updating of the existing rules of operation, a careful study and analysis of the data regarding crop water management, other water use etc. needed to be made in consultation with both States.
Till the requisite data analysis and formulations of fresh guidelines, the existing protocols with mutual cooperation should be honoured, the Board said.
"In this connection, specific provision in the A.P. Reorganisation Act may be referred as indicated vide pare 85(8) under Part-IX. 5. It was also reiterated that during the first meeting of KRMB held on July 10, 2014, it was agreed upon that the existing protocols will be honoured till such times new guidelines protocols are devised for which repeated requests have been made to both the State Governments to supply data which is still awaited," the KRMB disclosed.
The KRMB said that the water requirements of both the States have been considered from time to time subsequent to June 20, and the necessary release orders during the current water year dated 24.06.2014, 11.07.2014 and 04.08.2014 were issued.
"It has been clearly reiterated in the Board letter dated 21.10.2014 that power releases if any, from existing storages should match the drinking water and irrigation requirements and a situation may be averted such that by way of water levels in the reservoirs it become operational problem to supply required water and thereby resulting in severe drinking and irrigation water crisis for the current season," the Board said in its order. (INN)