Telangana Govt complained against Andhra Pradesh

Hyderabad, Sept 20: The Telangana Govt has complained to the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) on Tuesday that the Andhra Pradesh Government had taken the unilateral decision on diversion of water from the Pothireddypadu Regulator, in spite of the order issued by the board on September 19 against such drawls.

According to officials of the Irrigation Department, AP had started diversion of water through Pothireddypadu by lifting three gates allowing a flow of about 5,000 cusecs to Srisailam Right Main Canal which feeds Telugu Ganga, Srisailam Right Branch Canal and escape channel to feed Nippulavagu.

However, it is stated that the gates were closed following the complaint in the evening but the power house on the regulator was still running discharging about 1,500 cusecs water into SRMC.

The two States have already been drawing water for the last five days through Handri-Neeva (AP) and Kalwakurthy (TS) lift irrigation systems after the water level in Srisailam crossed 835 ft against the full reservoir level of 885 ft. The minimum draw-down level (MDDL) for the reservoir is 854 ft.

In the letter addressed to Member-Secretary of KRMB Sameer Chatterjee, Engineer-in-Chief of Telangana C. Muralidhar explained that water level in Nagarjunasagar was in a precarious position and it was unable to meet even the drinking water supplies due to drop in the water level that stood at 500.9 ft on Tuesday night. Nagarjunasagar needs replenishment with release of water from Srisailam since its MDDL is 510 ft.

He also urged the board to call for a meeting at a short notice to discuss drinking water needs and the action plan for the current water year.

Official sources admitted that the board had expressed its displeasure when Telangana had released some water to Nagarjunasagar from Srisailam for drinking water needs of Hyderabad and Nalgonda districts even before the release order was issued by it.

However, it was explained to the board that the water was not diverted to any irrigation system and the release was commenced through the left bank power house only to meet the drinking needs.