Telangana , AP spar over Godavari projects

HYDERABAD: At a time when both Telangana and AP governments are working together on diversion of Godavari river water, officials of both the states have opposed proposals and arguments by their counterparts during the meetings of Godavari River Management Board (GRMB) and Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) and held at Jala Soudha on Friday.
At GRMB meeting, AP irrigation officials sought a list of irrigation projects being taken up by Telangana on Godavari river, arguing that projects like Kaleshwaram and Dummugudem were constructed illegally. However, Telangana government maintained that all the projects were proposed by the previous government in united AP.
GRMB chairman RK Jain said, “The Board has not received any proposal on diversion of Godavari water to Krishna.” The officials will meet again on August 14 or 19 to discuss Godavari water issues.
Meanwhile, Telangana government opposed AP’s demand to shift KRMB office to Vijayawada from Hyderabad. Telangana irrigation department officials said as Krishna water disputes, involving four states (AP, Telangana, Maharashtra and Karnataka), are still in the SC and there was a proposal to set up Krishna Decisions Implementation Board, it is not feasible to shift KRMB office now.
The issue came up during KRMB meeting, where issues including water sharing, water indents, tele metries installation and working manuals were discussed. AP officials also demanded that all the projects in Krishna basin should be brought under the purview of KRMB. “It has been decided that the earlier water allocation (66% water to AP and 34% water to Telangana) will be continued as inflows are still continuing in Srisailam,” said KRMB chairman RK Gupta.
It has been decided to complete tendering process to install telemetry equipment in Krishna basin. Officials said in first phase, 18 telemetry were installed and additional nine will be provided to measure water all along the basin. The meeting also discussed about water indent by the two states. Telangana sought 103 tmcft of water, while AP sought 38 tmcft of water from Srisailam.