HYDERABAD: Even as irrigation experts are of the opinion that the Centre should defer taking over control of irrigation projects on Krishna and Godavari rivers in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh until more clarity emerges on the issue, the two sub-committees of Godavari and Krishna River Management Boards met here on Sunday and set the motion in process for takeover of the projects from October 14.
Sources said that the sub-committees, after a lengthy discussion and debate, proposed that KRMB should take under its control from October 14 Peddavagu project on Godavari river, and 29 projects, including Pulichintala, Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme (RDS), Srisailam, Pothireddypadu, Handri Neeva Srujala Sravanthi, Sunkesula, AMRP and Kalwakurthy projects on Krishna river, in AP and Telangana.
However, the final decision would be taken at the full-fledged meetings of Godavari River Management Board (GRMB) to be held on October 11 and Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) on October 12 when the sub-committees would place their reports before them.
On their part, Telangana officials are likely to put up a strong case before GRMB and KRMB in the next two days over the need to defer the “Centre’s takeover” keeping in view the withdrawal of its case in the Supreme Court and the likelihood of the jal shakti ministry referring Krishna water sharing dispute issue to Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal (KWDT-II) for delivering justice to the two Telugu states.
Even chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao announced on the floor of the assembly on Friday that he had requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah and Union jal shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat to defer taking over the projects on the two rivers.
The CM also informed the assembly that the prime minister, home minister and jal shakti minister had assured him to do it. “Let’s wait and see. If that does not happen, then we shall take an all-party delegation to Delhi to meet the prime minister on the issue,” CM KCR said in response to the concerns raised by AIMIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi over Telangana’s genuine share of river water.
Telangana officials are likely to put up a strong case before Godavari and Krishna river management boards in next two days over need to defer “Centre’s takeover” keeping in view the withdrawal of its case in the Supreme Court
