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Palamuru project may pose threat to Krishna delta
Highlights
Farmers leaders of Andhra Pradesh, particularly those from the Krishna delta, spread over 13.50 lakh acres in Krishna, Guntur, West Godavari and Prakasam districts, are expressing concern over the Telangana government starting work on Palamuru lift irrigation scheme on Thursday.
- Farmers’ leaders say drawing 70tmcft of water from Srisailam is a violation
- They blame State govt for not taking steps to prevent the project
- A meeting planned in Vijayawada on June 16
Vijayawada: Farmers leaders of Andhra Pradesh, particularly those from the Krishna delta, spread over 13.50 lakh acres in Krishna, Guntur, West Godavari and Prakasam districts, are expressing concern over the Telangana government starting work on Palamuru lift irrigation scheme on Thursday. The scheme is aimed at drawing 70 tmc ft of water from the foreshore of Srisailam reservoir to irrigate 10 lakh acres and supply drinking water to Mahabubnagar, Rangareddy and Nalgonda districts.
The project is estimated to cost Rs 32,500 crore.Though the project was initially proposed on Jurala project with a fresh reservoir at Ganded village of Balamuru mandal in Mahabubnagar, but the TS government dropped the proposal due to the flood threat to nine villages.
The Andhra Pradesh Drainage Board former chairman and veteran farmers’ leader Yerneni Nagendranath criticised the state government for turning a blind eye to the TS government’s new lift irrigation project that would draw 90 tmc ft of Krishna water from Srisailam.
“Though the TS government says it will draw only 70 tmc ft of water, the officials have planned to draw 90 tmc ft, posing a serious threat to Krishna delta after the completion of the project,” he said. He also contended that the lift irrigation scheme on Krishna river was against the water distribution arrangements made for the two states in the AP Reorganisation Act 2014.
Nagendranath alleged that the TS would draw the water for Palamuru lift from the river though it is proposed to lift only the floodwater. “They have proposed to draw the floodwater, but what is the guarantee that they would not draw the assured water and deny the delta its share,” he asked. He recalled how the TS government had raised objections to the release of water from Nagarjunasagar for the last kharif and rabi seasons, after bifurcation.
Stating that the Krishna delta has no water for the present kharif, he expressed fear that the delta would have no water in future and lose its riparian rights once the Palamuru lift scheme is completed. “The Reorganisation Act did not allow any new irrigation projects on Krishna and Godavari without clearance from the respective river board.
The Palamuru is a clear violation. I wonder why the AP government is silent on this project. The Chief Minister should speak for the state,” Nagendranath said. Pointing to the TS government making complaints against Pattiseema, he wanted to know why the AP government had turned a blind eye to the new project by the TS.
The Krishna Delta Parirakshana Samithi convener, Kolanukonda Sivaji, took a strong exception to the silence on the part of Andhra Pradesh government on the irrigation projects taken up by the Telangana and Karnataka states upstream the Krishna river. He said that the Karnataka had proposed several lift irrigation schemes on Bhadra (30 TMC ft) and Tunga (30 TMC ft) and it also had taken Rs 900 crore loan from Asian Development Bank.
These projects would deny water to AP and also Rayalaseema, he said and demanded that the government call for an all-party meeting along with the representatives of the farmers. Meanwhile, Bharat Kisan Sangh called for a meeting of the farmers and farmers’ associations of Andhra Pradesh on June 16 to discuss the irrigation schemes, supply of water for Krishna delta and the irrigation schemes proposed by the Telangana and Karnataka states upstream in violation of the decisions of the Krishna and Godavari tribunals. Representatives from all the 13 districts are expected to attend the meet.
By:D Gopi
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