Telugu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh were all at loggerheads over the issue at the last meeting of the river management committee on May 10.
Posted Date – 06:00 AM, Sun – 6/11/23
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Hyderabad: The debate over Krishna’s share of water has heated up again, and the River Management Board (KRMB) seems unable to offer any solutions until the problem is resolved.
Telugu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh were all at loggerheads over the issue at the last meeting of the river management committee on May 10.
In the absence of consensus, the board sought the intervention of the Jal Shakti ministry as a way out, seeking to facilitate a finalized solution. But no progress has been made there either, even a month after the board put water sharing on the agenda. So far, Telangana is in the dark about the board’s response.
As the new water year has started, advance notification of irrigation schedules is mandatory for the benefit of farmers of the Krishna Basin Joint Project and the Telangana state government has reminded the board on the matter.
Chief Engineer (General) C Muralidhar wrote to the Chairman of KRMB on May 31, requesting him to immediately refer the matter to Minister Jal Shakti as he had promised in the board meeting. But the board has yet to reply to the state government.
AP Chief Secretary (Water Resources) Sashibushan Kumar wrote a hastily written letter to the KRMB chairman two days ago, different from the board meeting minutes on the issue of water sharing. He wants to continue with the ad-hoc sharing model of 64:36 between AP and Telangana. In fact, it was only placed for one year at first, and it lasted eight years after that.
Telangana has been dealing unfairly through ad hoc sharing arrangements for the past nine years, and it rightfully claims its fair share of 50%. In his letter, ENC (General) recalled that regarding water sharing in the Krishna Basin, the Board had decided to refer the matter to the Ministry of Water Resources for a decision by the Apex Committee.
The same was recorded in the minutes of the meeting communicated by the KRMB. However, so far, no hint has been received from the KRMB to refer the issue to the Indian government. The board was also unable to make interim arrangements for the Kharif to share river water.
Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh has started pumping water from watershed projects to meet its needs in the Krishna Delta before Telangana can secure water for the season.
