VIJAYAWADA: The Krishna River Water Management Board (KRMB) which met here on Tuesday is planning to write to the Centre seeking a fair distribution of Krishna water between riparian states. The sixth board meeting focused on how upstream states Karnataka and Maharashtra, despite having surplus water in their dams, were not releasing any to downstream states AP and Telangana.
“We are planning to write to the Centre and the Bajaj Committee on the equitable sharing of inflows between upstream and downstream projects,” KRMB chairman AK Srivastava and member secretary Sameer Chatterjee told reporters after the meeting It is learnt that officials of both the Telugu states expressed displeasure at the excess water in Narayanpur, Almatti and Koyana dams located in upper riparian states not being shared with Telangana and Andhra Pradesh even for its drinking water needs. Officials of both sides felt “the attitude of Karnataka and Maharashtra is against the national policy that rivers are national resources”.
According to a senior official privy to the matter, the Board was sensitive to the issue and said it would write to the Centre explaining the factual position. It even offered to hold a brainstorming session with officials of all the four states — Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh — to discuss the predicament of the aggrieved states. Higher officials of the Water Resources Department opined it was “high time” the distribution of excess water among the four riparian states of the Krishna, which was considered neither by the Bachawat Tribunal nor the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal, was discussed. The brainstorming session is likely to be organised at the National Water Academy in Pune.
Andhra Pradesh and Telangana were allotted 511 and 299 tmc ft of Krishna water yearly in 2015. “Whenever there is a deficit or surplus, suitable allocations will be made,” the KRMB chairman said.
When pointed out that the Telangana government was not following the directions of the board with regard to the release of water, its members begged to differ. “In the past, there have been some lapses in the release of water on time, though the quantum was released. The issue was discussed during a meeting and it was agreed that there would not be any lapse or variation in the discharge rate,” Sameer Chatterjee, KRMB member secretary said.
When asked about Jurala project, Chatterjee said the amount of inflow into the dam was meager and was being utilised for the needs of the immediate locality. He told TNIE the transfer of water from teh project to Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar was not discussed. At the meeting it was decided that both the states agreed to set up more telemetry systems which measure rainfall and water levels of rivers. There will be 46 additional telemetry systems in the second phase in addition to the existing 18 telemetry systems that were installed in first phase. The working manual of the KRMB has been finalised.
According to a senior official privy to the matter, the Board was sensitive to the issue and said it would write to the Centre explaining the factual position.
The damned
The water levels of dams on Krishna river in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are at the lowest in recent times
Surplus not shared
Projects in Karnataka and Maharashtra brimming with water
278 tmc ft
Estimated utilisation of Krishna water by upstream states. At least 70 tmc ft required for drinking water in AP, TS
Beating the crisis
AP, TS in a dilemma as to how to address the drinking water needs
70 tmc ft minimum water required to cater to drinking water needs of both states
A brainstorming session between four riparian states to discuss the current issue is likely to be held shortly.
Water levels in Important Projects on Krishna River
Almatti (Karnataka) - 121.40 tmc ft
Srisailam (Andhra Pradesh)
21.10 tmc ft
Nagarjuna Sagar (Andhra Pradesh/Telangana)
115.62 tmc ft