Whither justice for Rayalaseema?

Now-a-days political parties of all hues and different agendas appear to have the same interest i.e., to safeguard the interests of coastal region, that too south coastal, even at the cost of other regions. That has been the motto and the only aim of politicians, (to whichever party or region they belong), who cry hoarse whenever they feel that coastal interests are said to be threatened. For them, Andhra Pradesh means only four districts. All others, be it Rayalaseema or Sreekakulandhra is not part of it.

Seema leaders’ silence
Again and again, they, especially, the politicians of Rayalaseema, try to prove their unflinching loyalty to their coastal masters, ignoring and even damaging the interests of their own region, the most backward Rayalaseema. In the construction of Palamur-Rangareddy and Dindi Lift Irrigation Schemes in Telangana, which are expected to lift 90tmcft and 30 tmcft of Krishna back waters respectively, as usual, they find it convenient to place the rifle on the shoulders of Rayalaseema, aiming at the people of equally backward districts of Mahabubnagar and Nalgonda. Such has been their refrain since 1920’s to get things done in their own favor.

Historical injustice to Rayalaseema
Coastal politicians deprived Rayalaseema of Andhra University in 1926, and The Sreebagh Pact (which promised State capital or High Court and priority in the use of Krishna and Tungabhadra waters for 10 years or more to Rayalaseema region) was thrown into a dust bin, once the Telugu State was formed. Most importantly, the Krishna-Pennar project, approved by the Planning Commission and the Madras government in 1951, was to be built at Siddeswaram in Kurnool district. Actually the Krishna–Pennar project was meant to irrigate 16 lakh acres in Rayalaseema.

It was sabotaged and Nagarjuna Sagar was built. Not satisfied with that they got Srisailam reservoir built, as an overhead tank to Sagar. Thus, Rayalaseema lost about 90,000 acres of fertile land and 100 villages drowned but not a drop of water from Srisailam. Again, since the Reorganisation of AP, Rayalaseema is treated as an untouchable, a Veliwada, with not a single institution, worth the name, whether of the State or the Centre, has been allotted to Rayalaseema. As usual, the politicians of this region nodded their heads like dumb animals.

Why spit venom on Telangana?
Now once again KCR has given them an opportunity to reiterate their loyalty to their coastal masters, spitting venom on Telangana.. We would like to remind them that administrative permission was accorded to the said projects during the Congress regime when Kiran Kumar Reddy was the CM. If those projects badly were to affect the interests of Sagar and Krishna Deltas, why didn’t these parties, from Right to Left, raise the issue then? Moreover, may we know in what way the construction of those projects affect the already GO69-affected Rayalaseema region?

TDP govt issued GOMS 69
GOMS 69 was issued by Chandrababu Naidu in the year 96, bringing down the minimum draw down level (MDDL) of Srisailam reservoir from 854 to 834 ft. Thus he deprived Rayalaseema of making use of even the allotted water (SRBC-19 tmcft, Telugu Ganga-15tmcft and KC Canal-10tmcft and also flood waters of 38tmcft through Galeru-Nagari) through Pothireddypadu head regulator, whose sill level is 841 ft.

It is to be noted that even that the GO 69 was brazenly violated many times drawing Krishna waters up to 769 ft during the last 10 years. This year also water has been drawn from Srisailam reservoir to Nagarjuna Sagar, till the water level reached to 781 ft and no party leader questioned.

No reservoirs, hence no use of Tungabhadra for Seema
The sad story is that we are unable to make use of allotted Tungabhadra waters for want of sufficient reservoirs. Why cannot these politicians force the government to take up the construction of Gundrevula reservoir with a capacity of 20 tmcft to stabilise water supply to KC canal ayacut? KC Canal is allocated 39.9 tmcft of Tungabhadra water to irrigate 2,85,628 acres in Rayalaseema region.

But it has two reservoirs: 1) Sunkesula with 1.2 tmcft and Alaganur with 2.965 tmcft, i.e., 4.165 tmc capacity only. Note that the permission was accorded to Gundrevula, Palamuru-Rangareddi and Dindi Lift schemes by the Congress government within a span of a few months. Whereas KCR took up Telangana projects on war footing, Gundrevula is pushed under the carpet.

Even 834ft level in Srisailam woudn’t benefit Rayalaseema
These parties argue if Telangana projects are completed, water level in Srisailam reservoir can never reach the level of 834 ft and thus harm the interests of Delta and Seema farmers.

In this regard, we would like to ask these champions of the farmers, in what way the MDDL level of 834 ft provide succour and meet the drinking and irrigation needs of Rayalaseema? Don’t these people’s champions know that unless water level in the reservoir stabilises at 854 feet, Rayalaseema region cannot draw a single drop of even allocated Krishna water from Pothireddipadu? What are these worthies doing, when water is regularly drawn from the reservoir up to the level of 781 ft flouting the norms of GO69?

Did they ever agitate for the completion of projects like SRBC (which is to irrigate 1,90,000 acres) which has been languishing for want of funds since 1983? In contrast, Pattiseema was completed within a period of one year. Are they ignorant that Sagar delta was fed with 859 tmcft as against allotted 263 tmcft in 2014? Are they ready to accept a resolution in the Krishna Board that Sagar Delta should not draw a single drop of extra water than allotted as it was done in the case of KC Canal?

With Pattiseema, Krishna delta doesn’t need Krishna water from Srisailam via Sagar
Are the politicians aware that Krishna delta does not need Krishna waters from Srisailam via Nagarjuna Sagar, for the 80 tmcft allotted to Krishna delta can now be supplied from Pattiseema? Then why this hue and cry over Telangana projects which are supposed to lift flood waters as is being done in the case of Handri-Neeva, Galeru-Nagari?

All they want is perennial supply of waters from upstream, by obstructing any attempt by Rayalaseema and Telangana to construct reservoirs to make use of flood waters, leaving the Rayalaseema and South Telangana regions parched and dry.

When we need the co-operation of Telangana people for the construction of Gundrevula reservoir to stabilise KC canal’s ayacut, Siddeswaram weir to utilise allotted water to SRBC, Telugu Ganga and KC canal and also Handri-Neeva and to utilise the flood waters of Tunga Bhadra by the construction of flood flow canal from Rampuram, near Mantralayam to Kottapalli, these agitations by political parties against Telangana projects, which are in no way detrimental to the interests of Rayalaseema, will certainly create hurdles for Seema projects.

Why care only for Sagar, Krishna deltas?
Their opposition is only to help Sagar and Krishna deltas make use of all the excess water of Tungabhadra River by ensuring no reservoirs in these upper regions. It is to be noted that while only 31.45 tmcft of Tungabhadra water is allocated to Krishna river, an average of 250 tmcft of water per year is flowing into River Krishna, according to government statistics and about 500 tmcft is wasted in the sea.

If all the parties are sincere about the Rayalaseema, they should get a resolution passed by their respective state committees /politburos seeking the abrogation of GO 69, immediate construction of HLC parallel canal, completion of various pending projects along, with construction of Gundrevula reservoir, Siddeswarm weir, RDS flood flow canal, Vedavathi Lift scheme and for implementation of the promises made in Reorganization Act such as a steel factory in Kadapa and start mobilising people in that direction. Alas, they are instead driving people towards the mirage of Special Status only. (The writer is Convener, Rayalaseema Joint Action Committee)

By Somasekhara Sarma