A witness for Andhra Pradesh before the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal (KWDT-II) headed by Justice Brijesh Kumar admitted before it on Monday that the water drawing capacity of Nagarjunasagar (NS) Right Canal at its head is higher than that of the Left Canal, although their capacity is mentioned 11,000 cusecs each.
The Right Canal of Nagarjunasagar serves an ayacut of 11.74 lakh acres entirely located in AP while the Left Canal with a total command area of 10.38 lakh acres irrigates nearly 62% (6.41 lakh acres) of its ayacut in Telangana and the rest in AP.
During the cross-examination of K.V. Subba Rao, a retired engineer, that resumed on Monday by senior counsel appearing for Telangana V. Ravinder Rao, the former admitted that although the water drawing capacity of Right Canal was 11,000 cusecs theoretically, it has the capacity to draw more water at the minimum draw down level (MDDL) of 510 ft in the reservoir. The sill level of the two canals is 489 ft.
However, the water drawing capacity of the Left Canal would be lower correspondingly at MDDL, lesser than 11,000 cusecs, since its head regulator has an approach channel within the reservoir and there would be surface fall from the dam to the entrance head regulator of Left Canal, the AP’s witness stated during the cross-examination. On the technical side, the Right Canal has nine vents with 10 ft x 15 ft size each and Left Canal has three vents with 10 ft x 25 ft dimensions each.
The AP’s witness told the tribunal that the capacity of the Right Canal head regulator was designed to carry higher quantity of water taking into account the plans to extend the canal into Nellore district. However, extension was carried out due to non-allocation of water. There was no provision either to irrigate areas of Nellore in the project approvals secured both in 1960 and 1969.
The cross-examination of Mr. Subba Rao has taken place in five spells so far in November and December last year and in July, August and September this year. During his earlier deposition, the AP’s witness admitted that there was no separate protection for 512 tmc ft and 299 tmc ft for projects in AP and Telangana areas in KWDT-I report but it was only an en-bloc allotment.
He also admitted that a total of 4.63 lakh acres command area under the Nagarjunasagar Right Canal falls outside the Krishna Basin and the canal-wise break-up allocation of 132 tmc ft was also not shown in KWDT-I report.
Meanwhile, an order issued by KWDT-II on Monday stated that the cross-examination of Mr. Subba Rao by the counsel of either side was over and examination and cross-examination of another witness of AP M. Visveswara Rao would be taken up from Tuesday.