Water sharing row: Only engineering officials allowed in Nagarjunasagar dam’s top area

Hyderabad: Irrigation ministers of Telangana and AP T Harish Rao and Devineni Umamaheswara Rao addressed a joint press conference following the meeting between TS and AP Chief Ministers.

The irrigation ministers said a broad consensus was reached among the states to protect all the standing crops in both the states and a mechanism is being evolved by the E-in-Cs to ensure proper supply of irrigation as well as for drinking water in both the states in view of the ensuing summer months.

They have also stated there shall be regular meetings among the E-in-Cs who will coordinate the releases from the dam based on the availability of storage.

A little later E-in-Cs of respective states C. Muralidhar and A.B. Venkateswara Rao met in the presence of irrigation secretaries and ordered immediate release of 7,000 cusecs of dam waters through Right Branch Canal and powerhouse. This quantum will be in operation for a minimum period of one week. Later, the releases will be reduced to 5,000 to 4,000 cusecs depending on the need in the cropping area. Almost immediately after the meeting the dam officials opened the right side gates.

It was also decided not to allow either police or the general public to go to the top of the dam and only allow engineering officials of both the states. Instructions were issued to the Special Protection Force manning the dam security and safety to comply with the directions.

Both the Chief Ministers, after the meeting with the Governor, left Raj Bhavan without talking to the media. According to sources, both the CMs seemed to have come to an understanding to have such meetings frequently to resolve all contentious issues concerning both the states.