Ballari: Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) ruled Telangana state is expected to register a complaint with Union Ministry of Water Resources against Karnataka for constructing Rs 120 crore gated barrage-cum-bridge across river Krishna upstream at the confluence of Krishna and Bhima rivers near Gurjapur village in Raichur taluk claiming that the barrage is being constructed in violation of the guidelines of Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal (KWDT).
Official sources in the water resources ministry of Telangana government said the TRS government is preparing to register a complaint with Union Minister for Water Resources Ms Uma Bharti after TRS leaders found that the under-construction barrage at Gurjapur village is allegedly in violation of the KWDT.
Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd. (KPCL) is constructing the barrage-cum-bridge for ensuring uninterrupted water supply to Raichur Thermal Power Station (RTPS). A team of Telangana leaders led by Telangana minister for industries Jupally Krishna Rao and Mahabubnagar MP and Floor Leader of TRS in Lok Sabha Mr Jitender Reddy visited the construction site on Tuesday and took stock of the project.
Telangana leaders stated that Krishna river water released from Narayanpur Reservoir should directly reach Priyadarshini Jurala Reservoir in Telangana. “The construction of any dam or barrage in between deprives Telangana of its legitimate share of water. Many parts of Telangana, including Hyderabad, are already facing acute drinking water shortage. Such projects will further worsen the water crisis in the State,” Mr. Rao told media persons at the construction site.
Mr Reddy said that Telangana government would first examine documents and see whether all required permissions have been taken. “Then we will register a complaint with the Union Water Resources Minister,” he said. Raichur Lok Sabha member B.V. Naik and Raichur city MLA Shivaraj Patil, who visited the spot at the same time, tried to convince the Telangana leaders about the legality of the project. Mr Patil told Telangana leaders that there is no illegality in taking up the project.
“The Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal (KWDT) has allocated 2.84 tmc ft. of water for RTPS. The project, which would hold just 0.46 tmc ft. of water, would help us use our share of water in summer when the river almost dries up,” Mr. Patil said. Mr. Naik asserted the legality of the project and told the Telangana leaders not to unnecessarily make it an issue.
