The Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) has allowed Telangana and Andhra Pradesh States to utilise 55 tmcft water, put together, till August-end for their drinking and irrigation needs. The quantity includes the water already drawn from the date of indents placed by them.
Board Member-Secretary A. Paramesham said the decision to allow utilisation of 30 tmcft by Telangana and 25 tmcft by AP was taken after holding telephonic discussions with the engineers-in-chief (ENCs) of the two States on July 26 and 27.
Indents of States
The quantity of water allocation for the two States has been decided based on the AP’s indents given on July 24 and 27 and Telangana’s indent on July 25 to meet drinking water needs for the remainder of July and August.
Of the allowed quantity, Telangana would utilise 10 tmcft for Kalwakurthy Lift Irrigation Scheme and AP would draw 9 tmcft through Pothireddypadu head regulator and 5 tmcft for Handri-Neeva, all from Srisailam Reservoir.
From Nagarjunasagar, Telangana would draw 6 tmcft for drinking water needs of Hyderabad and Nalgonda, 2 tmcft for Mission Bhagiratha and 12 tmcft from Left Canal. Similarly, AP would draw 7.5 tmc ft through Right Canal and 3.5 tmc ft from Left Canal. Stating that the water available for utilisation by the two States as on July 27 was 84.6 tmcft, including 82.75 tmcft in Srisailam and 1.87 tmc ft in Nagarjunasagar, the KRMB official said in the orders issued on Friday: “52 tmcft water is to be released from Srisailam to Nagarjunasagar to meet the requirements of both the States from it and to enable adequate releases from Nagarjunasagar Left Canal by maintaining the reservoir level of 520 ft”.
The order further stated that 52 tmcft water to be released from Srisailam to Nagarjunasagar from July 28 to August 22 at the rate of 2 tmc ft per day would include transmission and evaporation losses.
Minimise losses
“The water should be drawn preferably through power houses run by the two States so as to derive hydel benefits in the agreed ratio of 50:50”, the order said adding that in case there is no power demand or the releases are not in tune with actual requirements of the two GENCOs, the water could be released through river sluices from Srisailam Reservoir.
Further, the releases to NS Left Canal should be made to meet the requirements of both the States simultaneously to minimise losses by furnishing the requirements of water by the Chief Engineers concerned of the two States.
The river board also suggested to the authorities of the two States to coordinate with each other to deliver water to Andhra Pradesh border.