Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka decide to approach Tungabhadra Board over water loss

Bengaluru: Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh have decided to approach the Tungabhadra Board for modernisation of both the right bank low and high level canals of the reservoir to stop the loss of over 30 tmc ft of water in the river basin.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with his Andhra Pradesh counterpart, N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the state would refer the matter to a technical sub-committee for its expert opinion before approaching the Board.

Although Andhra Pradesh has completed modernisation of the 80-km stretch of the canal that runs in its territory, Karnataka has not upgraded the remaining 115- km long stretch in its jurisdiction, causing silting of the dam and canals and loss of around 30 tmc ft water through leaks.

With the neighbouring state now upping pressure on it to modernise its stretch of the canal, Mr Siddaramaiah said the matter would be referred to the Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Limited and it, in turn, would constitute a technical sub-committee to look into it.