HYDERABAD: Officials of the Telangana Irrigation department would put up a demand before the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB), which is to meet here on Saturday, asking both the Telugu states to contribute for the drinking water needs of Hyderabad as it the common capital for TS and AP. Another demand from officials will be to consider the Pulichintala project of Andhra as a common project between the two Telugu states.
Even as the Telangana officials shot off a letter to the board to include these two demands in KRMB agenda, they failed to oblige. “Most of the agenda points are demands from AP,” an official said.
Water being supplied to Hyderabad for drinking water purpose has been counted in TS’ share of Krishna water. However, this time, the TS officials have decided to raise the issue in the meeting and demand that Hyderabad’s drinking water needs should be met by both the States. “Hyderabad is a common capital of both the states. So both should contribute for the drinking water needs of the city,” a TS official said.
The officials have also decided to bring pressure on KRMB to consider Pulichintala as a common project. “Telangana has hydel power plant on Pulichintala. Before bifurcation, TS had 11 minor lift irrigation projects at Pulichintala which would irrigate around 25,000 acres. So, Pulichintala should be treated as a common project,” the officials said. AP has reportedly drawn more water through the Pothireddypadu project and the water drawl accounts differ for manual and telemetry records. According to sources, there is no account for around 150 tmcft of water in Krishna river. Thus, both the states insist on the details of unaccounted-for-water in river Krishna. Another agenda item on KRMB is that whether losses of Nagarjuna Sagar Project canal should be counted in account of both states or not.
National status for Kaleshwaram?
Recently, the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme got the crucial hydrological clearance which will be basis for all other clearances. The Irrigation officials are preparing to file papers for Stage-II forest clearance for KLIS. “Now, we have to get irrigation planning clearance and economic viability clearance. Once, these clearances are obtained, the KLIS will be eligible to get the national project status,” official sources said.
However, sources pointed out that the state government is in two minds on getting national project status for Kaleshwaram. Taking into note the bitter experiences faced by AP on Polavaram in getting the required Central funds, the TS is of the view that completion of Kaleshwaram on its own is the best. “The state will borrow the required amount and complete it earlier,” the sources said.