HYDERABAD/NALGONDA: The dispute between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana over Nagarjuna Sagar water reached new heights on Monday with AP irrigation officials lodging a police complaint against TS officials for not releasing one tmcft of Krishna water from Nagarjuna Sagar.
It all started with Telangana irrigation officials stopping the release of water from Nagarjuna Sagar to Andhra Pradesh.
Their Andhra Pradesh counterparts rushed to the site and demanded that water is released. Tension prevailed at Nagarjuna Sagar on Guntur-Nalgonda border with officials on both sides entering into a heated argument.
Policemen were deployed in large number on both sides. AP officials contended that they were eligible to draw one more tmcft of water from NSP for drinking needs.
However, TS officials stopped supplying water, stating that AP had drawn its entire quota allotted by the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB). TS officials said AP utilised its entire quota and yet was demanding an additional one tmcft.
However, the AP officials argued that they did not draw their full quota and they needed one tmcft more. When TS irrigation officials went to the NSP to stop the water supply to AP, AP officials entered into a heated argument with them.
“We have released 7,000 cusecs per day for AP and their quota was completed today,” Telangana chief engineer Sunil said.
The quota 45 tmcft for AP and 31 tmcft for TS was fixed by the KRMB in its Feb meeting. Later, an additional 2 tmcft of water was allotted to AP. TS officials said they were following KRMB’s orders and stopped the release of water.
However, AP officials contended that TS officials obstructed them from discharging official duties and lodged a complaint with Vijayapuri South police station in Guntur on Monday. The working group of KRMB will meet again on May 5 to decide on the summer water releases for AP and TS. TS wanted 10 tmcft of water for drinking needs and AP too, requires drinking water till the end of June.