Krishna Waters: CM Jagan asks officials to protect rights of AP

Vijayawada: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has asked officials to ensure that the interests of AP are protected vis-à-vis the issuance of the latest regulations by the Union government on Krishna waters allocation.

A high-level meeting held by the Chief Minister on Monday night considered the latest regulations by the Centre on Krishna waters. AP would file a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court on KWDT-2. In this connection, the CM discussed matters with officials and legal experts of the irrigation department.

The CM discussed in detail the allocations given earlier on the distribution of Krishna river water.

The KWDT-2 issue was also discussed vis-à-vis the allocation of surplus water and loss through the judgment, officials said.

It was felt at the meeting that all these developments were detrimental to the interests of the state.

Officials said the State Apportionment Act contains these guidelines. “The notification issued by the Centre is in violation of the State Reorganisation Act and this is in violation of the provisions of Section 89.”

They stated that the AP Reorganisation Act stipulated adherence by states to the allocations made before the state bifurcation. But, now, this is being violated.

The gazette notification was released even though many petitions were already pending before the Supreme Court. “The authorities have issued these procedures in violation of Class 4 of the Inter-State River Disputes Act.”

Law says that the tribunal allocations and transfers made before 2002 should not be re-examined, officials noted.

The officials said, taking into account the fact that AP transfers water from Polavaram to another basin in Godavari river, as per allocations, it is not reasonable to ask AP to make additional allocations from Krishna River to Telangana, which would be a loss to the state.

The Chief Minister asked the officials to protect the interests of the state by all means. He made it clear to the officials that there was no compromise when it came to the interests of the state. Apart from this, in the wake of publication of the gazette on the KWDT-2 guidelines, the CM asked officials to write letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah in this connection.