TS all set to propose Himalayan river inter-linking to Godavari

Hyderabad: Telangana is all set to propose inter-linking of rivers from the Himalayas to Godavari in the latest edition of meeting of Irrigation Ministers of all South Indian States to be held in Hyderabad on Tuesday.

The meeting is being organised to resolve disputes related to irrigation issues between the South Indian States. Further, the State will also push its case for according national project status for its ambitious Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS).

Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao will present the State’s proposal for inter-linking of rivers starting from Manas River from the Himalayas with Rivers Sankosh, Theestha, Ganga, Suvarnarekha, Mahanadi and Godavari, in that order.

The State firmly believes that the move would answer water crisis in southern States, especially Krishna river basin and also strengthen the Southern Water Grid catering to the needs of TS, AP, Karnataka and TN. Through diversion of water by inter-linking of rivers from the Himalayas to the Godavari, the country can utilise about 938 tmc from various rivers and prevent water woes for future generations.

Harish will pitch for national status for Kaleshwaram project on the occasion. He will also demand finalising TS’ share in the waters of Krishna and Godavari before fixing the jurisdictions of Krishna and Godavari Water Management Boards (KRMB and GRMB) over projects separately.

The State government pointed out that though a working arrangement was made between AP and TS for using 512 tmcft and 299 tmcft respectively from Krishna for a year, the water share has not been finalised in the last four years.

In case of a discussion on inter-linking of Godavari and Cauvery rivers, the State government will reiterate its apprehensions over water availability and submergence of villages in this regard.

The Centre proposed the construction of a barrage at Akinepalli in Khammam district across the Godavari from where about 247 tmc of surplus water will be pumped into Nagarjunagasagar project and then to Cauvery via Somasila project using gravity.

The TS government will demand an in-depth study and fix amount of surplus water from Mahanadi river to the Godavari before taking up the river inter-linking project from Mahanadi to Cauvery rivers.

“AP is creating confusion over availability of assured water in the Godavari. Further, they are arguing that construction of Kaleshwaram project would affect availability of water in the Godavari and hence, want us to obtain necessary permissions. However, we do not need any fresh permissions as they are required only for new projects and Kaleshwaram project is an old project,” the officials said.

Rao will seek Telangana’s share of 45 tmcft from Pattiseema project as per recommendations of the Bajaj Committee to provide 45 tmcft to Telangana from Polavaram project. Pointing out that the Bachawat Tribunal did not make any allocations to minor irrigation projects, he will also demand that the AP government provide details pertaining to minor irrigation projects in its jurisdiction.

The State government which has already declared usage of 30 tmcft towards minor irrigation projects, suspects that about 60 minor irrigation projects are under operation in AP.

The Minister will also highlight the unauthorised release of water from Srisailam project to Pothireddypadu project by the AP government. Though the KRMB assured installation of telemetry stations on Krishna river within two months, there has been no progress in this regard.

The government will also take up issues pertaining to bringing Tungabhadra inter-State project under KRMB, modernisation of Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme (RDS) and also submergence of areas in TS due to Polavaram project.