BRS Legislature Party deputy leader T Harish Rao on Wednesday demanded that the State government initiate immediate measures to stop Andhra Pradesh’s unauthorised drawal of Krishna river water from the Nagarjuna Sagar right canal and protect the State’s water rights. He also urged Union Minister G Kishan Reddy to exert pressure on the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) to prevent the alleged diversion.
As Andhra Pradesh commenced drawing water from the Nagarjuna Sagar right canal without KRMB authorisation, Harish Rao said the neighbouring State had sought 47 TMCft from the river, but a decision on water release was deferred by the KRMB three-member committee during a recent meeting. “Before any decision on allocation, how can AP officials draw water?” he questioned, asking why the KRMB did not intervene and why the Telangana government remained silent.
He said that 11 TMCft had already been diverted from the Srisailam reservoir through the Veligonda tunnel and accused the State government of failing to protect Telangana’s interests despite continuing dry conditions and adverse impact of El Nino.
