Seema organisations protest fresh terms of reference to Brijesh tribunal

Anantapur: The Rayalaseema-based organisations and leaders are seriously concerned over the Union Government decision to give fresh terms of reference to the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal.

This would adversely impact the drought-hit region, as the Krishna backwaters of Srisailam is the only major source of drinking and irrigation there. Also, many parts of the region including cities and municipalities are facing acute scarcity of drinking water and the situation is worse during peak summer.

As Union minister Anurag Thakur announced, the tribunal will allocate water on a project-wise basis for projects in both states that are intended for developmental or future purposes.

The Rayalaseema-based organisations called for protests across the region over the Centre's injustice to the backward and drought-hit area.

The available quota was divided as 511 tmc for AP including Rayalaseema and 299 tmc for Telangana, based on command area and utilisation. However, Telangana has been mounting pressure, seeking a major share of water post the state bifurcation in 2014.

While the TS government was reportedly utilising additional water from Srisailam in the name of power generation from Srisailam, a major source of Krishna for both states, TS Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao sought an equal share of allocated water, on a 50:50 basis, instead of the 34:66 ratio as per the ad-hoc arrangement of 2015 between TS and AP in 2021.

AP irrigation authorities led by ENC Narayana Reddy were seriously opposing additional drawal of water from Srisailam by TS in violation of the terms of actual allocations and conditions.

TD politburo member Kalava Srinivasulu alleged that the state government failed to mount pressure on the Centre and the central water commission to get an additional quota from Srisailam.

“Many projects are still at final stage and there is an acute drinking water crisis in the Rayalaseema region. Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy should protect the rights of AP, instead of protecting his assets in TS,” he observed.

The Rayalaseema Porata Samithi leader Byreddy Rajasekhar Reddy told the Chief Minister to do justice to the region, “If any wrong decision comes, Rayalaseema will suffer for more centuries,” he said.

The Rayalaseema Porata Samithi urged the state government to oppose the Centre’s decision to notify the jurisdiction of Krishna River Management Board.

“If the new terms of reference are for redistribution of Krishna river water between the states, then it would have an adverse impact especially on Rayalaseema. Already, project-wise allocations were made and states were given the right to redistribute them in their own territory.”

“The TS demand for an equal share of 811 tmc from Srisailam is not correct,” it said.

CPI Kadapa district secretary Gali Chandra said round-table conferences will be held across the region on Oct 8 and protests would be staged at collectorates the next day, against the BJP- led central government.