Harish: Centre okay with Srisailam power

The Centre on Monday reportedly told the Telangana government that it can continue generating power from Srisailam reservoir.

Telangana irrigation minister T. Harish Rao said the order came after Union water resources minister Uma Bharati clarified that a recent order by the Krishna River Management Board did not specify anything about the new state being disallowed to generate power after November 2.

The Union minister for water resources is the appellate authority over the board.

Mr Harish Rao said had he asked the Telangana Genco chief to start generating power from the Srisailam reservoir after meeting Ms Bharati here.

During his meeting with Union water resources minister Uma Bharati, Mr Harish Rao complained about the order that was issued by the Krishna board that Telangana should use only 3 tmc ft of water for power generation up to November 2. He said the order should be withdrawn immediately as it does not have any basis.

Mr Rao said the minister summoned a copy of the order and clarified that it did not mentioned that Telangana cannot use water from Srisailam.

“The minister has clarified. The ministry said that the Telangana state can use the water and the power generation can begin immediately. I have spoken to the Genco chief and asked him to start gen- erating power with immediate effect,” Mr Rao told reporters after the meeting.

He said he explained to Ms Bharati that injustice was being done to Telangana in the matter of Krishna water and that the KRMB’s order was beyond its purview and powers. He also asked Ms Bharati and the ministry to ensure that Telangana’s rights are protected on this issue.

He said he explained the factual position on the Srisailam power generation issue and appeal against the directive of Krishna River Management Board.

The Telangana government is also planning to move the Supreme Court against the AP government for denying it its share of power from the Krishnapatnam power project.