HYDERABAD: The Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) — set up to resolve water issues between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh — has been fighting its own battle with both the states. With Telangana and AP not releasing funds even after repeated requests, for the past three years the KRMB has been facing funds crunch even for day-to-day operations.
The board was forced to borrow Rs Rs 1 crore from the Centre in the form of a grant to keep functioning. It is now proposing to refund the amount if both states release their share of funds. Not just this, the board is also facing shortage of personnel, including engineers.
Interestingly, the Centre’s recent gazette notification said both the states have to deposit Rs Rs 200 crore each for the functioning of the board.
The KRMB has included the issue in the agenda items and is planning to raise it during the 14th board meeting scheduled for August 27.
KRMB officials said that in the board meeting held on June 6, 2018, it was agreed that both Telangana and AP would share the budget estimation approved by the KRMB in equal proportions (50:50) from the financial year 2018-2019.
“Even after repeated correspondence with both the states, the KRMB did not received requisite funds from the states. While the Telangana has released Rs Rs 3.5 crore against its share Rs Rs 8.37 crore during 2020-2021, the AP government did not deposit the amount for the past two years,” KRMB member secretary DM Raipure said in the agenda points sent to the state governments.
He said for the 2021-2022, the board approved Rs Rs 18 crore budget. At the same time, it was decided to create reserve fund of Rs Rs 10 crore. But the amount has not been received. The board has just Rs Rs 2.46 crore in the bank amount to meet its expenditure.
The KRMB also pointed that posts of four personal secretaries and one senior accounts officer are lying vacant for a long time, which is causing problems in functioning.
“Since the KRMB is an autonomous body under the Central Act, people with experience should be appointed as consultants and outsourcing basis. Since the state government remunerations are not lucrative enough to attract suitable candidates, retired employees are not coming forward to work with KRMB. The chairman of KRMB should be authorised to hire experienced people at higher rates of remuneration,” the member secretary said.
“The states, which have not been releasing budget amount for regular functioning and reserve fund (to overcome budgetary issues), appear to be reluctant to release Rs Rs 200 crore.,” an official of KRMB said.
