Telangana gets 3 TMC Krishna water to generate power

The Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) Friday allowed Telangana to use three TMC (thousand million cubic) feet water to generate electricity till Nov 2 to tide over the acute shortage in the state.

The board announced its decision after hearing governments of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh at its two-day meeting which concluded here Thursday.

The decision was conveyed to water resources secretaries of both the states. The board believes that the demand for electricity may come down after Nov 2.

"If required, the matter will be reviewed after Nov 15," the board said in its order.

Andhra Pradesh was demanding Telangana to stop hydel generating electricity at Srisailam to maintain Minimum Draw Down Level (MDDL) in Srisailam reservoir across Krishna river. Telangana had refused to do so on the ground that it needs to generate electricity to maintain minimum supply to save standing crops.

Farmers in Telangana depend on electric pump sets for irrigation and the shortage of electricity has badly affected them.

The Andhra government had written to the board, seeking its intervention to stop Telangana from generating electricity to prevent water going below 854 feet level in Srisailam as this may deprive Rayalaseema region of water for drinking purpose.

The letter triggered a row with Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao asserting that Telangana has every right to generate electricity at Srisailam. He alleged that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is violating all rules by depriving Telangana of its due share in electricity as prescribed by Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act.

The officials of both the states had refused to budge from their stand during the board meeting. While Andhra wanted that drinking and irrigation water requirements be given priority to other uses, Telangana wanted that power generated from Srisailam may be treated at par with irrigation water requirements.

After hearing the arguments from both sides, KRMB chairman S.K.G. Pandit had reserved his decision.

The board felt that all precautions be taken in using the water to avert drinking and irrigation water crisis.

It also made it clear that existing protocols with regard to rules for operating Srisailam reservoir will continue as any updating of existing protocols need careful study and analysis of data regarding crop water management and other water uses in consultation with both the states.

The government of erstwhile state of Andhra Pradesh had issued orders with regard to operational rules but Telangana government is seeking modifications in view of the bifurcation of the state.