The Telangana government has been expressing severe discontent over the failure of the Krishna River Board Management (KRBM) in making proper distribution of Krishna water among two Telugu states. As both the states fail to reach into an agreement over water sharing at the Board meeting held on November 30, the Board struggling hard to strike a balance between the demands of two Telugu states.
The unrelenting attitude of two states over utilization of over 137 TMC water available in Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar reservoirs, makes the task of the Board critical. The Telangana irrigation department has rejected all six options suggested by the Board in this regard.
Accusing all those options are favouring interests of the neighbouring state AP, the Telangana Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao is preparing to seek intervention of the union water resource minister Uma Bharti by complaining against attitude of the Board.
Harish Rao seeking urgent resolution of the issue in view of urgent need to meet their rabi requirements and also drinking water problems.
Against the availability of 137 TMC water in the two major reservoir and some small quantity in Pulichintala reservoir under construction, the two riparian States have presented indents for 213 TMC put together including drinking water needs.
In the board meeting held on November 30, AP has sought 110 TMC while Telangana has asked for 100 TMC. Telangana has taken a strong exception to AP’s argument that it should be allotted at least 100 TMC in the available water and the remaining 30 TMC should be given to Telangana since the latter has utilized 89 TMC water through the minor irrigation sources with the help of 18 per cent excess rainfall during the south-west monsoon season.
However, Telangana has countered the argument stating that the total storage capacity of minor irrigation sources in the Krishna bases in its limits was only 29 TMC ft. It has been arguing that it should be provided a minimum of 56 TMC water.
