Amaravati: The Andhra Pradesh government has issued orders for handing over irrigation projects and power stations depending on water from Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar reservoirs to the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB).
The state government, however, laid down the condition that six outlets in Andhra Pradesh may be taken over only, along with nine outlets of Telangana under Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar.
The State Water Resources Department has issued an order for handing over the major outlets, sanctioned posts, and allied infrastructure, in line with the decision taken at the recent meeting for the phased implementation of the jurisdiction notification of the Jal Shakti Ministry, which came into effect from October 14.
According to the Government Order, Andhra Pradesh is ready for handing over the Srisailam project spillway and river sluices, Pothireddypadu head regulator, and Srisailam Right Main Canal (SRMC), Handrail Neeva lift irrigation scheme (Malayala pump house) and appurtenant works, and Muchumarri lift irrigation scheme.
It also expressed willingness to hand over 181 employees of the Srisailam dam management circle office, Srisailam section office, and sub-division offices.
Similarly, the Energy Department issued a GO for handing over Srisailam right bank powerhouse and another power station on Nagarjuna Sagar right bank canal.
The Andhra Pradesh government, however, laid down the condition before the KRMB that their projects be taken over along with Telangana’s projects including Srisailam, Nagarjuna Sagar, Kalwakurthy Srisailam left bank powerhouse, Sagar Spillway, Sagar right canal head regulator, left canal head regulator, a powerhouse on the left canal, the main power station at Sagar, Alimineti Madhava Reddy project, and Sagar flood canal.
Andhra Pradesh has been insisting that Telangana hand over power stations to the KRMB to check what it calls illegal power generation by the neighboring state. It argues that the central ministry issued the notification on the request of Andhra Pradesh to stop Telangana from illegally generating power.
On the other hand, Telangana is hesitant to hand over its power stations on Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar. It claims that it is generating power in accordance with its rights.
Telangana is yet to make a decision and is waiting for a report from a committee formed on six outlets (canals and regulators). A committee headed by Engineer-in-Chief Muralidhar is looking into the issue.