Telangana, AP Officials Clash Over Sagar Water Release
Both states release 2,000 cusecs as reservoir nears dead storage level
Nalgonda: A dispute between irrigation officials of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh resurfaced at the Nagarjunasagar Project (NSP) on Wednesday after AP officials released water into the right canal and Telangana subsequently released water into the left canal.
AP officials released 500 cusecs into the right canal at 11 a.m. and gradually increased the discharge to 2,000 cusecs by evening. Telangana irrigation officials, after informing their higher authorities, released 2,000 cusecs into the left canal.
A heated argument took place between officials of the two states over the releases. Officials of both states cited filling of irrigation tanks and drinking water requirements as reasons for drawing water.
The releases came ahead of directions from the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB), whose meeting has been postponed to September 4. The absence of clear directions on water use has resulted in both states drawing water based on their requirements.
With the water level at NSP falling close to the dead storage level due to the impact of El Niño and lower inflows, clarity on the use of Krishna water for drinking purposes is awaited.
According to Telangana officials, Andhra Pradesh had fully utilised the 10 tmc ft of water allocated to it by the KRMB for drinking water requirements last year. Of the 15.90 tmc ft allocated to Telangana, around 8.5 tmc ft has been utilised so far, leaving about 7.4 tmc ft available.
Telangana officials said water was released into the left canal for drinking water purposes as part of the state’s unutilised allocation. They said the release of water into the right canal by AP officials would be brought to the notice of higher authorities and a report submitted.
Security has been tightened at the Nagarjunasagar Dam, with police deployed to prevent any tense situation.
Irrigation department chief engineer V. Ajay Kumar said water had been released into the left canal for drinking water purposes and that the Peddadevulapally irrigation tank would be filled with Krishna water. He said further details on the release would be provided in accordance with state government orders.