TS never shared project info: AP
The Andhra Pradesh government on Monday listed out various projects being taken up by the neighbouring Telangana state in violation of water pacts and without obtaining prior approval from the statutory bodies.
In separate letters written to the Krishna River Management Board and the Godavari River Management Board, AP special chief secretary, irrigation, Adityanath Das urged them to stop TS from executing projects on both rivers that would adversely impact the existing and approved projects with 75 per cent dependability in Andhra Pradesh.
With regard to the ongoing tussle over the AP’s proposal to draw water from Srisailam at Sangameshwaram and enhancing the capacity of Pothireddypadu head regulator and canals in Pennar basin, AP sought to reply TS in its own language.
Referring to the minutes of the only Apex Council meeting held so far on September 21, 2016, the AP government informed the KRMB about the TS stand that it would restrict itself to the allocations made by the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal II and go ahead with the PalamuruRanga Reddy lift Irrigation Scheme and Dindi Lift Irrigation Scheme.
“In the same way, AP will execute the proposed Rayalaseema Lift Scheme to draw water at the level of 800 ft to meet drinking and irrigation requirements in Rayalaseema, Nellore and Prakasam districts and will restrict itself to the allocation of KWDT II,” he wrote.
Andhra Pradesh also countered the Telangana State argument that the Apex Council had cleared the PRLS and DLS.
“The Union ministry of water resources representative made it clear in the apex council meeting that the two projects are new,” Mr Das told Deccan Chronicle.
Further, he said as per the Reorganisation Act, the KRMB should recommend new projects to the Apex Council without which the latter can not approve them.
The question of Apex Council approving the
PRLIS does not arise because it never had the recommendation of the KRMB, he pointed out.
Mr Das, in his letter to KRMB, said the Telangana State government had taken up three more new projects on surplus waters Bhakta Ramdas, Mission Bhagiratha and Tummilla in addition to Palamuru and Dindi. The Telangana State also enhanced the capacity of ongoing projects launched by the erstwhile combined state government Kalw-akurthy, Nettempadu and Srisailam Left Bank Canal from 77 tmc ft to 105 tmc ft.