AP Forcibly Releases 2,000 Cusecs From Nagarjunasagar Dam After Face-off

VIJAYAWADA: Hours before the Assembly elections were to commence in Telangana state, the AP government released 2,000 cusecs of water for drinking purposes from the Nagarjunasagar dam after a face-off with Telangana officials on Thursday night. The road between the two states was barricaded and the AP government reportedly deployed 1,200 personnel at the dam.

Water from the Nagarjunasagar dam, located on the border of the two Telugu states, serves the irrigation, drinking water and power needs of AP and Telangana. The project has 26 gates, of which the Telangana government operates Gates 1 to 13 and the AP has control over the rest, as per the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014. Release of water from the dam is based on the advice of the Godavari Waters Dispute Tribunal.

The ruckus started when AP officials went to the dam to release the water, but Telangana officials objected and placed barricades. AP officials then summoned the police, who reached the dam and removed the barricading.

The Telangana special police force, upon arriving at the spot, did not allow the AP police to go on to the dam and locked up the control room. Officials from the two states argued about the release of water for about half an hour.

The AP police tried to pacify their Telangana counterparts, explaining that AP had the right to control its part of the project and Telangana could not deny their rights. With Telangana police refusing to budge, the AP police forcibly entered the dam and escorted the AP irrigation officials into the control room.

The AP officials then took control of the operation of Gates 14-26. The AP police also set up barricades on the project road, completely preventing vehicular movement between the two states. Iron fencing was laid on the project to prevent the movement between the two states.

As tensions escalated, the Telangana staff cut electricity connections to the motors, following which AP officials provided a new connection, operated the motors and released 2,000 cusecs of water.

The Telangana police alleged that the AP policemen damaged the CCTV cameras set up at the gate as a part of the security arrangement. It may be recalled that a similar tense situation prevailed due to a ruckus between AP and Telangana on February 13, 2015, when AP tried to release water from the dam.

The AP police stated that they went to the site of the dam only after receiving a report from irrigation officials. They said that to prevent an untoward incident amid the ongoing flare-up, over 1,200 police personnel were deployed at the dam to control the situation.