CM seeks Centre's intervention in ensuring effective utilisation of Tungabhadra water between riparian States
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has sought the intervention of the Central government in ensuring effective coordination with other riparian States for utilising the allocated
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has sought the intervention of the Central government in ensuring effective coordination with other riparian States for utilising the allocated share of Tungabhadra water to the State. He expressed concern that the State was not getting 5 to 6 TMCFT of water from Tungabhadra against its allocated share of 15.9 TMCFT. As many as 83,987 acres ayacut in 75 villages of Jogulamba Gadwal district was dependent on Tungabhadra water for irrigation needs. Since three States — Telangana, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh — were depending on the river, the Central Water Commission should take steps to further strengthen the Tungabhadra board for effective utilisation of water. The Chief Minister made the comments during a high level meeting on Tungabhadra project and inter-State river water disputes on Wednesday. The meeting expressed concern over the status of RDS anicut and wanted immediate steps to be taken. The State government deposited ₹59 crore towards modernisation of RDS canal, but works were yet to be completed. Officials told the meeting that works on package one and two were yet to start and those pertaining to package three and four were completed.
The meeting has decided to raise the issue during the meeting with Union Jal Shakti Minister slated on Thursday. The meeting resolved to identify immediate and long term solutions to safeguard its rightful share of waters under the Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme (RDS). The development comes amid continuing concerns over poor water availability, silt accumulation and structural constraints affecting canal flows. The State could hardly avail 5 to 6 TMCft water against its entitlement of close to 16 TMCft annually. It reviewed the challenges confronting the decades-old irrigation system and examined a range of engineering, administrative and inter-State coordination measures to ensure effective utilisation of Telangana’s allocated waters. The Chief Minister and Irrigation Minister wanted the State officials to prepared the ground to engage with Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and the Centre to evolve mutually acceptable solutions that could improve water management within the Tungabhadra basin while safeguarding Telangana’s legitimate rights. The discussions focused on the persistent difficulties in drawing adequate water into the RDS canal despite allocations available to Telangana. Heavy silt deposits near the canal head regulator, changes in river morphology and structural impediments had significantly affected free flow of water into the canal system over the years.
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