AP Writes to KRMB, Seeks Centre's Intervention Over Telangana's Illegal Power Generation

23 Sep, 2021 13:40 IST|Sakshi Post

VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh government has sought the intervention of the Central government and direct the Telangana authorities to refrain from withdrawing water from the Srisailam, Nagarjunasagar and Pulichintala projects for hydel power generation.

Water resources secretary J. Syamala Rao on Wednesday had written a letter to Krishna River Management Board  (KRMB) to this effect.

As per the letter, he urged the KRMB to take the matter to the notice of the Centre and requested that action be initiated against the Telangana government for non-implementation of the decision of KRMB.

TS Genco was continuing to draw water from water projects for power generation through its powerhouses. Srisailam reservoir was getting depleted continuously and such water was getting surpluses into the sea and being wasted.

Telangana had drawn 113.57 tmc ft of water from Srisailam, 86.60 tmc ft from Nagarjunasagar and 23.63 tmc ft from Pulichintala projects unauthorisedly as on Wednesday.  As per 113.57 tmcft of water drawn from Srisailam project to be accounted against the agreed allocation of 299 tmcft for TS.

He asked for 50% of the power generation of Telangana by utilising 110.23 tmcft of water from Nagarjunasagar and Pulichintala projects, which should be shared with AP. He requested the KRMB to arrange an emergency Board meeting to discuss the issue of unauthorized power generation by TS and also to complete the agenda of its 14th meeting.

At the 14th meeting of the Board, it was decided that the two states should generate electricity using the water allotted to them in the Srisailam project only when there is a need for irrigation water. But the Telangana government is producing electricity in violation of the agenda leading to the water level in Srisailam is depleting.

The AP Bifurcation Act states that it is illegal to review the judgment of the Bachawat Tribunal. The tribunal clarified that the judgment was in force. Water should be released by generating electricity only when there is a need for irrigated water below, as stated on page 148 of the Bachawat Tribunal judgment. Section ‌ – 85 (8) of the Separation Act also clarifies the same point. It is clear in the ninth paragraph of Schedule 11 of the Bifurcation Act that the Krishna Board and the Centre should impose fines on the concerned state for violating the directives contrary to the regulations. The AP government also sought to impose a fine on the Telangana government for disobeying the orders of the Centre and the Krishna Board.

Also Read: 

whatsapp channel
Read More:
More News