Hyderabad: The first meeting of the newly constituted Krishna River Management Board, that was held on Thursday decided in principle to address the drinking water problem in both Telangana and AP, and accordingly issue orders for the release of water.
The Board which met under the chairmanship of A.B. Pandya decided to allot the remaining 2.8 TMC ft of waters to the Krishna Delta and 3 TMC ft of water to the AMR Project in Nalgonda district with immediate effect. It also simultaneously decided to release 10 TMC ft each to the Nagarjunasagar Left (Telangana region) and Right Bank (AP) canals to meet drinking water needs up to September 2014.
However, in view of the fast falling levels in the Nagarjunasagar dam, the Board also decided to draw waters from the Srisailam dam to Nagarjunasagar dam to keep the reservoir level at 510 ft MSL.
When the AP government sought release of waters from Nagarjunasagar to Krishna delta for irrigation needs, the Board rejected the request stating that in view of the precarious situation Krishna basin is now facing due to lack of rainfall, any requests from the two states for water for irrigation cannot be considered.
At one stage when AP government representatives sought release of water from the Nagarjunasagar dam below 510 ft, the Board stated that the minimum draw down level (MDDL) of the Nagarjunasagar dam (510 ft) should be maintained. However, it decided to consider the request as when the situation improves.
Mr Pandya expressed happiness over the smooth conduct of the meeting.
