River Krishna
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Contents |
AP vis-à-vis Telangana
As in 2021 July
dams/articleshow/84051685.cms Koride Mahesh, July 2, 2021: The Times of India
Incidentally, this is not the first time Telangana and AP irrigation officials clashed over their rights on Krishna water. In fact, it was for the third time (2015, 2017 and 2021) in six years that both states deployed police personnel in large numbers at the dams. Earlier, on February 13, 2015 police personnel of both states nearly came to blows at Nagarjunasagar dam site. Both the states’ officials even lodged police complaints in 2017 for not releasing water from Sagar.
Telangana and AP have been at loggerheads over construction of irrigation projects on Krishna, especially Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Scheme (RLIS) in AP and hydel power generation in Telangana for the past two weeks. The Telangana government had written letters to Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) complaining against the AP government and a case was also filed in the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which asked the AP government to stop the works. The Telangana irrigation officials alleged that the AP government did not stop RLIS works despite NGT and KRMB orders.
AP strongly objected to power generation from Srisailam and other projects, especially Pulichintala, where the water level was just 20 tmcft and cannot generate power at that level, that too without taking approval from KRMB.
AP irrigation engineer-inchief C Narayana Reddy shot off a letter to KRMB member secretary seeking immediate suspension of power generation by Telangana at Srisailam, Nagarjunasagar and Pulichintala. On June 29, Telangana Genco started hydel power generation from two units of Srisailam, which the AP government objected to saying it started without taking permission from KRMB. Later, Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao directed officials to generate power from all hydel power stations to full capacity. Following the orders from the energy department, Genco enhanced the capacity by operating more units at Srisailam, Nagarjunasagar, Pulichintala, and Jurala projects. “We will enhance hydel power generation depending on availability of water and inflows,” Telangana Genco director (Hydel) Ch Venkata Rajam told TOI.
Refuting AP’s claims that Telangana cannot generate hydel power, Telangana energy minister G Jagadish Reddy said Srisailam project was constructed for generation of hydel power and not for irrigation.
Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy writes to PM Modi, seeks CISF cover for projects:
Amid tension between two Telugu states over sharing of Krishna river water and the deployment of police by both states at Srisailam, Nagarjunasagar and Pulichintala projects, AP chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to intervene and resolve the issue. He requested the PM to notify the jurisdiction of the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) and provide Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) protection at the projects. Jagan alleged that Telangana was illegally drawing water from the river at Srisailam for power generation.
Encroachment on river
Infrastructure
Syed Akbar, Along bank, capital trouble builds for Krishna, Sep 14, 2017: The Times of India
CURVES DON'T LIE: Andhra Capital Coming Up On Floodplains And Paleo Channels That Play A Role In Controlling Overflow Of A River
Amaravati, the new capital of A n d h r a Pradesh being built along the Krishna river, is touted as a model of a planned city . But its residents may have to shell out a lot for drinking water. And during heavy rains, a threat of floods will loom over them.
For, the city is coming up on the floodplains and palaeo channels (extinct course of a river) that play a key role in controlling overflow from the Krishna and ensuring potable water in a region otherwise afflicted by the scourge of groundwater salinity .
“The Krishna used to follow a different course 5 lakh to 10 lakh years ago. These courses are now present in the form of palaeo channels. Water flows through them underground. Any obstruction to their path--through construction of buildings or roads-will lead to flooding and abnormal increase in the groundwater table,“ says environmentalist V Satyanarayana.
Flooding along the Krishna in 2009 that affected over 400 villages and towns was partly attributed to such activity .
Experts from the Geological Survey of India (GSI), Hyderabad, say the floodplains of Vijayawada are spread over 246 sqkm and the palaeo channels cover about 55 sqkm. Any construction on them is expected to prove dangerous. Though a deeper foundation will protect buildings, it will obstruct the flow of underground water streams through paleo channels,thereby affecting aquifers in the region that are fed by them, said K Babu Rao, a scientist from the National Alliance of People's Movements, championing the cause of ecological balance.
Aquifers in the Krishna delta hold valuable reservoirs of fresh water--the rest of the region has saline groundwater-worth over Rs 1,000 crore annually . But they will be lost if Amaravati is built over paleo channels, says experts.
However, the Andhra Pradesh State Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA) seems oblivious to the problem. It is only focused on ensuring that the river's floodplains are kept free of construction. Stressing on the fact that Amaravati would require “extra protection from flooding“, APCRDA officials said a minimum construction level would be set to ensure Amaravati is safe even when Krishna crosses the danger mark.
APCRDA has informed the National Green Tribunal about its strategy to prevent flooding and has approached the World Bank seeking funds for flood mitigation, and development activities in Amaravati. In a report to World Bank, APCRDA said it has studied the flood lines for once-in-100 years, -50 years and -25 years floods in the region.
Environmentalists are not convinced though. Water conservationist Rajendra Singh, who recently toured Amaravati, challenged APCRDA for a debate on the impact of paleo channels and floodplains.
Discounting flood fears, APCRDA principal secretary Ajay Jain told TOI: “The idea of a river-based capital is not to spoil the environment but to protect and beautify the Krishna riverside. The green field capital is being shaped essentially as a blue green city.We have roped in a consultant from the Netherlands for this.“
