AP-TS water row reaches Centre

New Delhi: The Andhra Pradesh Irrigation Minister Devnineni Umamaheshwar Rao on Tuesday complained to the Centre against Telangana against the non-compliance of Tribunal Awards given by Krishna and Godavari River Management Boards over the regulating and supplying of water. He pointed out to the Centre that it was agreed by both the Telugu speaking States to regulate supply of water from the projects together but Telangana had gained control over the flow of water from Nagarjuna Sagar dam even though it was a common project for both the States. He said as a result of this, allocated water was not released from the dam to meet the legitimate demands in residuary Andhra Pradesh.

Andhra Pradesh says Telangana, even after receiving the advice from Krishna River Management Board to avoid intermixing of other projects in the basins for the purpose of estimating water allocation, still advocates share from Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar reservoirs which is based on intermixing of other projects. Telangana State is vested with control of head regulators and other appurtenant s of the reservoirs. Andhra Pradesh government wants the Krishna River Management Board to take control of the water flows from Telangana, or to direct the State to follow the protocol as said in the AP Reorganisation Act.

Telangana Major Irrigation Minister Harish Rao objected to the concerns raised by Umamaheshwar Rao. He made it clear to the Centre that Telangana would suffer if any unilateral alterations were made over sharing of waters from the interstate rivers. Both the Ministers participated in the second meeting of the Special Committee on Interlinking of Rivers at Vigyan Bhawan in the national capital where a resolution was made to prepare a detailed project report considering objections and suggestions of the States involved. Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti said the States could raise their concerns and objections in the next meeting.