Water dispute: a look at A.P.’s concerns

‘Established protocol bars Telangana from drawing water from the Krishna for power generation without meeting the irrigation demands first’

The crux of the matter is the allegation of the Andhra Pradesh government that Telangana is drawing Krishna water from the Srisailam, Nagarjuna Sagar (NSP) and Pulichintala projects for hydel power generation without obtaining clearances from the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB). The Andhra Pradesh government says that the operation and maintenance of the Srisailam dam, Pulichintala project and Prakasam barrage are under its purview, whereas the NSP and Jurala projects are under the control of Telangana. Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, in his letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 1, had said that Andhra Pradesh and Telangana were supposed to share the river water in 66:34 ratio as per the allocation made on an ad hoc basis by the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-1, after deducting minor irrigation utilisations, evaporation losses and Godavari diversions. As per the ratio, while Andhra Pradesh’s share was 512 tmcft, Telangana's share was 299 tmcft.