No specific quantity is mentioned to be drawn from the project for both the states. The drawal depends on the availability of water
Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states have agreed to optimise the usage of Krishna water based on their requirement for cultivation of crops and drinking water purposes up until May-end.
The agreement was arrived at at the Krishna river management board meeting in Hyderabad on Thursday. The meeting was presided over by KRMB chairman Atul Jain.
At present, the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam has 40tmc-ft of water above the minimum drawdown level and the Srisailam project has 23tmc-ft above MDDL.
As per the discussions held between the two states at the meeting, some 7,000-8,000 cusecs of water is to be drawn from the Nagarjuna Sagar dam for the Left Main Canal located in Telangana and some part in AP for 15 days to meet the requirement for raising crops and also for drinking purposes.
Similarly, some 1,000 to 1,500 cusecs of water is to be drawn for the Right Main Canal, which flows through parts of AP, for 15 days. The water to be drawn for RMC is a part of the 7,000-8,000 cusecs to be drawn for LMC. The water thus drawn comes to nearly 5 tmc-ft for 15 days.
From the Srisailam project, both states agreed to draw water as per requirement. As for AP, water for Handri Neeva Sujata Sravanthi is to be drawn upto March-end for raising crops and also to meet the drinking water needs.
No specific quantity is mentioned to be drawn from the project for both the states. The drawal depends on the availability of water.
KRMB asked the water resources officials from both states to hold a review on water availability and requirement once in every 15 days and draw the water accordingly. There is also an agreement to review the availability of water and requirements in both the projects even on a day-to-day basis to optimise the available water for usage.
Another proposal was to use the turn system to get the water for use.
Moreover, it is noted that the requirement for water will reduce towards the end of May for cultivation of crops as they grow up and get ready for harvest. The authorities from both the states are supposed to use the water carefully to meet the needs.
AP water resources engineer-in-chief Venkateswara Rao said, “We have agreed on reviewing the water needs for crops and drinking purposes at frequent intervals, with Telangana, to optimise the usage of Krishna water from both Nagarjuna Sagar and Srisailam projects to serve our mutual interests.”
