KCR explains to Pandit 'injustice' to TS

HYDERABAD : Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who presented the State's version on utilising Krishna waters and generating hydro power at the Srisailam project to Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) chairman SK Pandit here, complained to the latter that though the actual share of water from Srisailam to AP was just 34 tmcft, it (AP) had illegally drawn around 60 tmcft. Pandit, who recently called on AP chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, met Chandrasekhar Rao at the Secretariat.

Though top officials of the irrigation department termed it a 'courtesy call', the chief minister during his one-hour interaction explained to him the prevailing power crisis and the stand of Telangana on utilising Krishna waters.

According to sources, the KRMB chairman gave him a patient hearing, but said nothing. 'A KRMB meeting will be held in Hyderabad on October 29 where the Board will decide certain things and resolve the ongoing tussle between AP and TS. After the KRMB decision, we will think of a future course of action,' said an official of Telangana.

However, the officials were confident that the KRMB would resolve the issue amicably. The chief minister informed the KRMB chairman that while its actual share of water from Srisailam was just 34 tmcft, AP had illegally drawn around 60 tmcft, an official release by the CMO said.

Rao explained to the chairman the injustice done to Telangana right from the Nandikonda project days till date. Rao stated that AP CM Naidu was cheating the Telangana people. AP constructed irrigation projects to use 338 tmcft more than their rightful share in Krishna waters.

Rao informed the KRMB chairman that AP could use 15 tmcft from the Telugu Ganga and 19 tmcft from the Srisailam right canal.

Fresh protocols Urged: In the wake of injustice to Telangana, Rao wanted the KRMB chairman to prepare fresh protocols for using Krishna waters.

The old GOs issued by combined AP were against the interests of Telangana. Fresh protocols and operational guidelines would help Telangana, Rao said. The issue of preparing protocols may come up for discussion in the KRMB meeting on October 29.

As for drawing water from Srisailam, the combined AP government issued three orders, GO 69 in 1996, GO 107 in 2004 and GO 233 in 2005. GO 69 fixed Minimum Draw Down Level at 834 feet at Srisailam, GO 107 at 854 feet and GO 233 at 834 feet.

'AP CM Naidu, who was talking about violation of GO 69, had never honoured the same during his tenure,' Harish Rao informed the KRMB chairman.

Telangana irrigation minister T Harish Rao said that chief minister Rao spoke of the injustice done to Telangana in the sharing of Krishna waters. The same injustice was continuing even after the bifurcation of AP, Harish Rao said.

According to information furnished to the KRMB chairman, the utilisation of water from Srisailam during Naidu's regime in combined AP was as follows. The contention is that Naidu never honoured the GO 69, which he is mentioning now.