Telangana govt asked to ensure that enough water stays in Krishna

Hyderabad: The Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) advised the Telangana government to ensure that the power production at Srisailam dam not causes depletion of Krishna River water below the threshold-level needed for drinking and irrigation purposes.

Based on a complaint by the Andhra Pradesh government, the KRMB, in a letter to Telangana government, also suggested both the states that any water released from both Srisailam and Nagarjunasar dams will be made jointly by the Superintendent Engineer-level officials from both the governments and reservoir status should be intimated to the Board on daily basis.

Andhra Pradesh government had earlier requested the Telangana government to stop power production from the Srisailam dam as it depletes water which it said would be used for irrigation and drinking water purpose.

However, the power-starving Telangana government reportedly did not heed to the request and continued the power production saying that it needs to supply the power to its farmers. Irked over the TRS government's decision not to suspend hydel-power generation from the Srisailam left bank canal power house, the Andhra Pradesh government formally lodged a complaint to the KRMB.

In view of the impending water requirements in the coming months for drinking and irrigation needs, it is therefore directed that the releases for the power generation should match the irrigation and drinking water requirements and any situation to reach at a reservoir level which may result in severe drinking and irrigation water crisis may be avoided, the Board said in its letter to the new-born state.