Telangana apprises KWDT-II how it was denied gravity flows in Krishna Basin

HYDERABAD

Telangana apprised the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal (KWDT-II) on Friday how it was historically denied gravity flows in the Krishna Basin and was compelled to take up only the lift irrigation schemes, thus making them essential for the State.

Senior counsel appearing for Telangana C.S. Vaidyanathan explained to the Tribunal with the helps of maps how the Reorganisation of States in 1956 had affected the gravity flows to the tune of 174.3 tmc ft to Telangana areas with improper presentation of the case by the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh with the Union Government and KWDT-I.

He explained to the Tribunal about the necessity of the ongoing projects such as Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC), Kalwakruthy LIS, Nettempadu LIS, Dindi LIS, Palamuru-Rangareddy LIS and others covered under the assured water category with 75% dependability. He also brought to the notice of the Tribunal about the proposal of Karnataka about resolving the issue of Almatti dam height to facilitate the usage of 60 tmc ft by the combined A.P. with the enhanced storage of Almatti.

However, the combined A.P. denied the proposal then (2009-10). If the Telangana State existed at that time, it would have got the benefit of that 60 tmc ft and would have bargained for more by way of gravity canals from Almatti, the counsel for Telangana said.

Further, he explained to the Tribunal how the area under Nagarjunasagar Left Canal in Telangana was brought down from 6.6 lakh acres to 5.4 lakh acres duly reducing the water utilisation, contradicting the Planning Commission approval of the project in 1956. Telangana’s counsel explained about Palamuru-Rangareddy LIS and SLBC projects in detail and their storage capacities.

The status of all other ongoing projects in the Basin in Telangana were also explained with a request for allocation of assured water to the most deserved drought-prone and fluoride-affected areas and also that it would not affect, in any way, water usage in A.P. and added that there was water for everybody’s needs but not for the greed.

The Tribunal allowed Telangana’s plea for two more days to complete its arguments on July 28 and 29.