Telangana cuts water supply to Andhra Pradesh

The water dispute between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana has intensified even as the Centre maintains status quo. From Wednesday afternoon, the Telangana government stopped water release from the Nagarjuna Sagar dam to the right canal that serves the irrigation needs of Andhra.

The water dispute between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana has intensified even as the Centre maintains status quo. From Wednesday afternoon, the Telangana government stopped water release from the Nagarjuna Sagar dam to the right canal that serves the irrigation needs of Andhra.

HT Image

Telangana which is maintaining the dam straddling the two states on river Krishna, states that Andhra Pradesh has already overdrawn its share of 132 TMC of water this season. Andhra authorities state that “the unilateral decision” of Telangana could lead to drying up of crops in 2.5 lakh acres. HT had in October 2013, following the UPA’s decision to divide AP, predicted this scenario.

“Andhra has already overdrawn about nine TMC of water from the dam and they still want more of the water which is ours. We see no justification in their argument but are still willing to be considerate and asked them to write a formal request to our CM Rao but their ego stops them from doing so,” Vidyasagara Rao, advisor to Telangana government told HT.

Andhra officials are annoyed at this proposal “When there are proper institutions — Krishna River Board and the central water resources ministry — to address such disputes why should we be writing to Telangana?” Adityanath Das, principal secretary, irrigation, Andhra government says. Both states are blaming the Centre for not stepping in to solve the crisis.