Ap Opposes Karnataka On Expediting Tunga Project
Spurred by Karnatakas reported decision to accelerate construction of the upper Tunga project (UTP), the Andhra Pradesh government has asked the Union government to immediately direct the Central Water Commission to review any sanction-clearance granted to such projects and, pending such review, to direct Karanataka to stop further construction.
In a letter to the Union water resources minister Janeshwar Mishra yesterday, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu questioned the veracity of the Central Water Commissions reported clearance to Karnataka to accelerate the construction of the UTP to the detriment of lower riparian rights of Andhra Pradesh.
The upper Tunga project is one of the several illegal projects undertaken by Karnataka in violation of the Krishna water delta tribunal award, Naidu alleged, adding that these unauthorised constructions would result in Karnataka utilising 1,156 tmcft as against the allocated 734 tmcft.
Naidu also requested Mishra to advise the agencies of the Union government to stop further funding to these projects under any of the centrally sponsored schemes.
The Karnataka government had reportedly planned to complete the UTP, estimated to cost Rs 667 crore, in two years, while the 65-km-long main canal work is expected to be completed by March 1998.