Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh’s new capital city Amaravati is likely to face a drinking water crisis. Experts say that the plan of the government to supply 30 TMC water from the Krishna may not work out, as the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal has already allocated water to existing projects on the river. The Andhra Pradesh government has requested the Union water resources ministry to allot 30 TMC from the unallocated water share to the new capital.
As it is, Andhra Pradesh is facing a drinking water crisis. The state irrigation department in a recent report to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said, “the situation in the common (AP and TS) reservoirs of Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar is alarming and we are unable to cater to even drinking water needs”.
The capital city master plan prepared by Singapore says, “The Amaravati capital city will receive water supply from two sources — Krishna river and the inland water reservoirs.
A proposed interlinked water supply network and four water treatment plants will provide water to the four zones within the Amaravati capital city. This water supply network would be supported by water distribution centres.”
The irrigation projects on the Krishna river are not getting sufficient inflows. According to an assessment made by the irrigation department, 48.37 TMC of water from the Srisailam reservoir is required for the supply of drinking water up to July 2016.
However, AP’s share according overall basin ratio out of the utilisable water of 70.620 TMC is 44.50 TMC. AP has already drawn 9.03 TMC and and the balance entitlement is 35.47 TMC.
In its letter to the Centre, the AP government wrote, “The Brijesh Kumar Tribunal has delivered its award in 2013. In view of the bifurcation of the state, a necessity has arisen to construct a new capital city for Andhra Pradesh. The requirement of water for a new capital city is estimated to be around 30 TMC. Therefore, the ministry of water resources may allot 30 TMC of water out of the Krishna river inflows from unallotted water share” for the new capital, Amaravati.
Download the all new Deccan Chronicle app for Android and iOS to stay up-to-date with latest headlines and news stories in politics, entertainment, sports, technology, business and much more from India and around the world.
