Hyderabad: The Krishna River Management Board released water to the Krishna Delta which was condemned by the Telangana government.
It said that it was irrational to decide (release of waters) unilaterally without taking the democratically elected government in-to confidence. The Telangana government also simultaneously asked Mr Pandya to convene board meetings periodically to decide issues related to water releases to various projects and canals.
On Wednesday afternoon, Mr Pandya in tu-rn communicated to both Telangana and AP governments, intimating them about the fir-st board meeting on July 8 and 9 with representatives from both the states. As per the Bifurcation Act, two members from each state, one from the administration and another from the technical side, will be part of the Board.
The statements made on Tuesday by Telangana irrigation minister T. Harish Rao regarding not complying with the board’s orders regarding release of waters, proved to be futile as the Act clearly states that all officials and engineering departme-nts associated with the functioning of projects on both Krishna and Godavari rivers in the two states will come under the purview of the KRMB and GRMB.
When contacted, a top official at Nagarjunasagar dam said, “We come under the board’s purview, that was the reason the orders on release of waters were directly addressed to us with only an intimation to both the governments. We cannot exercise our discretion in these matters and it is for the board to look into all aspects, we are here to implement whatever we have been directed to do, that is all.”
Meanwhile, Telanga-na government special chief secretary on irrigation and command area B. Aravind Reddy, in his letter to the KRMB, requested for the release of 3 tmc ft of water to fill the tan-ks for drinking purposes in Nalgonda district through the AMR Lift Irrigation Scheme. However, there is no formal orders from the KRMB to this effect so far.
In a related development, Telangana irrig-ation minister said the KRMB had been misled by the reports submitted by the AP government giving details of the realisation of Krishna waters at Prakasam district.
“They have got some quantum of waters at the barrage, they will get it for four more days continuously. It is because of their misinformation to the board that it took this decision of releasing another spell to Krishna delta. We also believe that farmers are using the water for raising paddy, we have already raised objections with the Board in this regard.”
