Hyderabad: In a major setback to Andhra Pradesh in water sharing with Telangana, Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) on Tuesday instructed Andhra Pradesh government to stop drawal of Krishna water from Pothireddypadu Head Regulator with immediate effect.

The Board was acting on a complaint lodged by Telangana government and found that 12.436tmc ft of water was released from the head regulator as on October 3 against water release order of 3tmc ft (inclusive of already drawn water of about 1.5tmc ft). AP government released excess water from the regulator, the Board said.

Earlier in the day, Telangana Engineer-in-Chief C. Muralidhar shot off a strong letter to the board member-secretary demanding action against AP government for excess drawal of water. He brought to the notice of the board that in spite of KRMB’s request to stop the drawal of water on September 27, the AP government continued to draw the water. The excess drawal of water would adversely affect drinking and irrigation needs under Nagarjunasagar project and Krishna Basin in Telangana, he stated.

Telagnana government had on September 27 complained to the KRMB against the AP government about the tampering of telemetry machines at Pothireddypadu head regulator.

Responding to that letter AP Engineer-in-Chief said that they had drawn the water only after seeking permission from the KRMB. He said that the AP government had not drawn excess water as alleged by the TS government. He also denied that there has been any manipulation of telemetry system. But the KRMB has finally vindicated the stand of Telangana government and in a letter to AP Engineer-in-Chief (Irrigation), KRMB member-secretary Samir Chatterjee instructed him to stop drawal of water immediately.