Telangana does not approve of notifying jurisdiction of Krishna basin projects

Hyderabad: Telangana on Thursday shot down a proposal to bring common irrigation projects between TS and Andhra Pradesh such as Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar under the jurisdiction of the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB). AP had pushed hard for the proposal at the secretary level meeting convened by the Union Ministry of Water Resources in New Delhi to hammer out solutions to river water sharing issues between the two States.

Minister for Irrigation T Harish Rao, who is also in New Delhi, categorically stated that it would not be appropriate for KRMB to notify the jurisdiction of the common projects at this juncture since the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal was yet to give its award finalising water sharing between the two lower riparian States.

Chief Secretary S K Joshi and senior officials from the Irrigation Department, who took part in the talks, made it clear that unless the project-wise water allocations are made, the need for placing common projects under the control of the river management boards would not arise and any such move would not serve any purpose.

As on today, the Srisailam project is under the operative control of Andhra Pradesh and Nagarjuna Sagar project continues to be under Telangana government. Following complaints of overdrawals by both the States, the issue was sought to be addressed through installation of telemetry system. Of the 49 telemetry points identified in Krishna basin, some 18 were installed in the first phase. But a majority of the first phase telemetries are not functioning. The telemetry installed at the Pothireddypadu head regulator was also a disappointment, the officials pointed out.