Water wars put Kurnool farmers in a fix
KURNOOL: With the ongoing protests and counter protests over power generation and water usage from Srisailam reservoir, the prediction of water and power fights between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana governments seems to be coming true .
The water levels of Srisailam reservoir have decreased to 857 feet and only 98.68 TMC of water is in store in the reservoir due to rivalry in power generation between both the governments, irrigation officials said.
As per the GO Ms No 107 dated 28 September 2004, MDDL of Srisailam reservoir was modified from 834 feet to 854 feet. There is a provision for relaxation to produce power depending on necessity. The minimum level can be modified by government orders from time to time. The Telangana government is now using this relaxation to its advantage.
At the meeting of the Krishna Water Distribution Authority in Hyderabad on 20 September, 2014 the representatives of both the governments C Muralidhar (Engineer in Chief, Telangana) and M Venkateswar Rao (Engineer in Chief, AP) accepted to use 6 TMC of water once a week for electricity generation depending upon need.
The then AP ministers did not think of the water needs of Rayalaseema. Now with the production of electricity by both the governments, Rayalaseema people are at a loss.
With the depletion of water level and also stoppage of the release of water to Pothireddypadu head regulator, even before water level reaching below 854 feet (actually according to GO 69, water should be released to Pothireddypadu, when water level in Srisailam is above 854 feet), about 3.6 lakh acre crops under SRBC, KC Canal and Telugu Ganga might wither forcing farmers to commit suicide.
The power generation at Srisailam is a boon to the farmers of Sagar delta and Krishna delta as they get additional power and sufficient water in Sagar and Prakasam barrage for their Rabi crops and drinking purposes.
Irrigation department retired officer K Subbarayudu said it is atrocious and inhuman to make the people of Rayalaseema victims in the feud between the governments of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
The attitude of government of AP is strange and deceitful in producing electricity at the right side generators, while blaming the government of Telangana for production of electricity to meet the needs of Telangana farmers, he said.
News Posted: 24 October, 2014
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