Krishna river may turn like Musi river of Hyderabad

Nearly 650 villages, 22 municipalities and two corporations depend on Krishna river for drinking water. The opinion of the experts and environmentalists have gained significance as the government is planning to establish the state capital on the banks of the Krishna river.

Andhra Pradesh Rytanga Samakya president and former drainage board member Erneni Nagendranath said the river view capital could contaminate the Krishna river and turn it into another Musi. He asked the government how it would modernise and beautify the city canals without stopping the release of drain waters into the canals.

One new canal should be provided parallel to the existing city canals to avoid pollution, he added.

Noted environmentalist D. Srinivasa Rao said that Varanasi is the best example for pollution and now the government is spending crores to tackle the problem. He said the new capital city might have the same problem and that no buildings should be constructed within a kilometer of the Krishna river.

He regretted that the capital committee led by municipal minister P. Narayana is visiting capital cities but could not discuss pollution issues so far. The government has also not taken any steps for avoiding pollution, he added.

Dr Srinivasa Rao recalled that already environmentalists had apposed the establishment of the ‘Silpaaramam’ on Bhavani Island, which is in the middle of the Krishna river due to the pollution problem.