AP, TS cops come to blows over Sagar row

Hyderabad: The raging controversy between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana governments over the release of water from the Nagarjunasagar reservoir into the project's right canal for irrigation in Krishna delta snowballed into a virtual battle for supremacy between the two Telugu states on Friday, with the police of both the States indulging in physical attacks on each other.

The situation would have turned to worse, but for the timely intervention of both AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and his Telangana counterpart K Chandrasekhar Rao. They agreed to hold negotiations on Saturday at Raj Bhavan in the presence of Governor E S L Narasimhan.

According to sources, Naidu called up KCR and suggested to the latter that they could work out an amicable solution over the release of water from Nagarjunasagar to the right and left canals through a dialogue. KCR responded positively.

While Naidu asked the police and the irrigation authorities of his government to maintain restraint till the issue was settled, KCR also asked the Telangana police forces to withdraw from the Nagarjunasagar dam site.

The issue of water release from Nagarjunasagar right canal to Krishna delta has been simmering for the last couple of days, after the Telangana government locked the gates stating that the AP had already utilised more water than what it was entitled to under the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal (Bachawat) Award at the cost of Telangana farmers in Nalgonda and Khammam districts.

This led to widespread protests from farmers in Krishna delta in Guntur and Prakasam districts and they have been bringing pressure on the AP government.

The issue reached a flashpoint with the political leaders from AP threatening to break the Nagarjunasagar project gates to release water into the right canal, if the Telangana government did not open the locks. On Friday, the irrigation officials of the AP tried to break open the switch room of Nagarjunasagar dam with the help of the Guntur police. The Telangana police immediately swung into action and tried to drive away the AP police.

This led to clashes between the police forces of both the States and they wielded lathis to attack each other. At least seven cops are said to have received injuries in the attacks and counter-attacks. The Central Reserve Police Forces intervened and tried to bring normalcy.

The irrigation officials of both the States also traded arguments and counter-arguments over the release of water. While AP authorities demanded that at least 6,000 cusecs of water be released into the right canal, Telangana officials said they could release only 2,000 cusecs through the power house and maintained that they would not be able to release more water without directions from the Telangana government.

In Hyderabad, Telangana Irrigation minister T Harish Rao demanded the Andhra Pradesh government should follow certain principles in using the water of Nagarjunasagar project to avoid confrontations.

He alleged that the Seemandhra leaders had bulldozed all the norms during the combined State regime and were trying to follow the same attitude even after bifurcation. He wanted the AP government to take stringent action on the leaders who threatened to demolish the gates.

The Minister said that already AP had already used an additional 43 tmc of water more than what it was allocated under Bachawat Award, whereas Telangana was still entitled to use 80 tmc of water.

He suggested that if AP still wanted more water, it could write a letter to the Telangana government. On the other hand Andhra Pradesh Irrigation minister D Umamaheswara Rao said that standing crops in about five lakh acres of Krishna delta was drying up as TS government had stopped water supply from the right canal.

He said that the Telangana government reduced the flow from the gates. He said that the letter had already been sent to the Telangana government requesting for release of water. 'It was the duty of all to protect the crops from drying,' he added.