The Irrigation Department has decided to impress upon the Krishna River Management Board the need to direct Andhra Pradesh Government to release two tmcft of water from Srisailam reservoir to cater to drinking water needs of Nalgonda district. The decision comes in the light of the reported decision of the neighbouring State not to concede the Telangana Government’s request to release water. The State Government sought release of water from Srisailam as the quantum of water available in Udaya Samudram would be sufficient to meet the requirements for the next 15 days. The existing storage at Udaya Samudram was made possible by steps like dredging.
According to senior officials, the neighbouring State had deployed 12 pumps at Muchumarri with a total capacity of 3,850 cusecs and four pumps are already pumping over 1,000 cusecs of water for Handri-Neeva in the name of catering to drinking water needs of Rayalaseema region.
“We sought release of two tmcft of water from the 34 tmcft available to serve the drinking needs of Nalgonda district, but the neighbouring State is apparently against it,” a senior official said. The State Government has decided to explain to KRMB the neighbouring State’s stand against release of water to cater to the drinking needs of Telangana and seek the board’s intervention. There was acute shortage of water supply to the twin citiesdue to non-availability from Krishna pipeline, but the department could manage the situation through release of water from Singur while some quantum of water had been kept on hold at Yellampally in case if the need arises. “But the situation is not the same for Nalgonda,” the official said adding the issue would be represented to the Board for appropriate action.