River Board move opposed
KRMB proposes to bring order to discipline violations
Hyderabad: Telangana State and Andhra Pradesh states are going to oppose the move by Krishna and Godavari River Management Boards to take control over all projects in order to streamline the administrative and technical functions in distribution of waters among the States. Union water resources ministry has convened a meeting on February 15 with officials from both the states in Delhi.
Telangana and Andhra Pradesh states are going to oppose the move by the Krishna and Godavari River Management Boards to take control of all projects on the two rivers in order to streamline the administrative and technical functions in distribution of water among the two states.
The Union water resources ministry has convened a meeting in Delhi on February 15 with officials from both state governments and representatives from the Krishna and Godavari River Management Boards.
The Krishna and Godavari River Management Boards were constituted by the Central government three years ago after the AP Reorganisation Act was adopted by Parliament. However, for administrative convenience, the management of the Srisailam Reservoir was given to Andhra Pradesh, and of the Nagarjunasagar to Telangana dtate. But experience has shown that both the state governments have been diverting more water than allocated to each, and there are discrepancies in the quantum of drawls. As far as utilisation of waters under minor irrigation sector goes, both state governments are furnishing the information sought by the Boards.
To put an end to the problems, the River Boards propose to bring all the projects under their control and administration in order to discipline the states’ drawing of water and the violations they commit. Each state complains against the other but the Board is unable to take action as the projects are not under its control.
The TS government is totally against the move and AP is partially against it. Telangana’s contention is that until project-wise allocation of water is still undecided (the matter is being currently heard by the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal), it is not possible to bring the projects under the control of the Boards.
According to Telangana government officials, without knowing the allocations how can boards take control of the reservoirs and start dictating terms to the governments? Telangana is equally opposing the Godavari River Management Board taking control over the projects. It fears that if such powers are given to the Godavari Board, it may take objection to the construction of the Kaleswaram and Sitarama lift schemes in Telangana, which are at an advanced stage of construction.
Andhra Pradesh is concerned that if such powers are given to the Boards, they may not divert more waters from the Srisailam Dam to Rayalaseema projects through Pothireddypadu and Malyala lift schemes. There will also be the question of the diversion of Godavari waters to the Krishna basin through the Pattiseema lift scheme.
The Krishna River Management Board has prepared the draft plan and placed it before both states for their comments before sending it to the Union water resources ministry for issuing notification.