Telangana state irrigation dept opposes efforts of KRMB

HYDERABAD: Telangana State Irrigation department opposed the efforts of KRMB to take control over Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states by way of draft working manual. TS made it clear that the unilateral decisions of the Board were not final and they were not binding on the states. The Board’s decisions were not binding on the states, unless there was a consensus in the board, TS said.Telangana state government opposed the voting right to Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) chairman. Raising certain objections to the draft working manual of KRMB, TS irrigation special chief secretary SK Joshi wrote a letter to the KRMB, suggesting some changes to the draft manual. TS also differed with KRMB that the draft manual was already approved.

The draft manual stated that “in case of tie, the chairperson shall have the casting vote”. The TS wanted deletion of the same. The same should be modified as: “in general, all decisions taken may be by consensus. However, if no consensus, the matter will be referred to Apex Council”.  
“The decision of the Board shall be final and binding on both the states of AP and TS needs to be replaced with the decision of the Board arrived at by consensus shall be binding on both the states of AP and TS,” the TS suggested.

In case disagreement at the board, the aggrieved party may refer the matter to the Apex Council for an appropriate decision, the TS suggested. The TS also wanted that the Chairman alone cannot take final decision in respect of the board matters.In all the TS suggested 11 such modifications to the draft manual.
The member-secretary, KRMB has erroneously assumed that the Board had approved the draft working manual in a meeting in August. The minutes of the  meeting stated that the board decided that now the working manual as finalised may be circulated. “But, nowhere in the minutes, it is recorded that the board had approved the working manual,” Joshi said in his letter to the KRMB on Saturday.