Vamsadhara tribunal gives respite to AP

Hyderabad: The Vamsadhara Water Dispute Tribunal (VWDT) verdict on Tuesday brought some cheers to the State government, which was let down by the recent Krishna Water Tribunal Award. The VWDT verdict, with certain conditions, gave permission to AP State to construct a weir on Katragadda village side so that the Vamsadhara river flood water from Neradi barrage can be diverted to Hiramandalam reservoir. With this decision an estimated 45,000 acre land will be benefited. Expressing happiness, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy said, “The decision of the Tribunal has fulfilled the long pending demand of the people of backward areas in Srikakulam district”.

It may be recalled that the State government had proposed to construct a 2 km side weir and flood flow canal in the State territory at Katragadda village to divert the flood waters into Hiramandalam reservoir. But, the government of Orissa objected to the proposal and filed a writ petition in Supreme Court on September 5, 2006 to direct the AP government to stop the weir works. The Apex Court had given judgment on February 6, 2009 and ordered the Central government to constitute a water tribunal to settle the issue. With this, Central government constituted a Tribunal, which delivered its decision allowing the State government to build a weir at Katragadda village.

The Vamsadhara River originates in Orissa, flows 154 km in Orissa, 29 km along the boundary between Orissa and Andhra Pradesh and further 82 Km in Andhra Pradesh. As per the 1962 agreement both states agreed to share waters on equally. The State government proposes to take up the Vamsadhara Project in two stages. The Stage- I consisting of Gotta barrage and Left Main Canal to irrigate an ayacut of 1.48 lakh acres by utilising 17.841 TMC of river water.