HYDERABAD: Telangana irrigation officials have decided to lodge a complaint with the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) against Andhra Pradesh for demanding more water from the Nagarjuna Sagar project.After Wednesday’s arguments between AP and TS irrigation officials held at NSP, TS officials have decided to write a letter to KRMB.
According to sources, TS officials are of the view that AP had already drawn more than its quota of 18.5 tmcft of Krishna water. “AP used 1.5 tmc more already. We will not allow it to draw more water,” an official said and added that they would lodge a written complaint with KRMB in this regard.
AP argued that out of the 18.5 tmcft water allocated to it, much of it was lost due to evaporation and other reasons and they did not get their actual share of water. However, TS officials decided to bring to the notice of KRMB that the evaporation loss too should be borne by AP and that state cannot claim more water than its quota.
They recalled that evaporation losses were not limited to AP but was a common phenomenon in the irrigation sector anywhere in the world. TS officials said AP stored around 6 tmcft at NSP to meet drinking water needs in summer.
“If AP wants water, it can utilise it now but on the condition that AP should not demand more water for drinking purpose in summer,” a TS irrigation official said.
AP officials should not be stubborn but stick to the decisions taken at KRMB meeting, they said.