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New Indian Express
9 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Watered-down safety? Telangana's irrigation projects suffer from neglect
ADILABAD/NIZAMABAD/SANGAREDDY/NALGONDA: At a recent meeting convened by Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil, the Andhra Pradesh government agreed to take up repairs to the plunge pool of Srisailam dam. In Telangana too, several projects require immediate attention as their operation and maintenance are not being taken up regularly. For example, plastic covers are being used by Irrigation officials to protect the Kumuram Bheem project (Ada project), a medium irrigation project, in Asifabad district, since its sidewall was damaged three years ago. Lapse at Srisailam Though officials averred that there is no immediate danger to Srisailam, the delay in taking up the repairs is a cause for worry. A retired hydro-mechanical engineer and gates specialist, Kannaiah Naidu, who visited the Srisailam dam recently, pointed out issues with Gate No 10, which is leaking. Though the leakage is less than 10% and does not pose an immediate threat, he emphasised the need for urgent repairs. He also noted signs of rust, lack of lubrication and accumulation of silt on the gates. He noted that no paint has been applied to the gates since 2010, a critical maintenance lapse. In its report in January 2024, the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) recommended that the possibility of constructing a downstream dyke or coffer dam be explored to raise the tail water on all the discharges in order to reduce further scour in the plunge pool keeping in view the high flood level fixed for powerhouses. Maintaining higher tail water level will help in reducing further scouring, the NDSA suggested.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Centre to form panel to resolve Andhra-Telangana water issues
The Union government on Wednesday decided to constitute a high-level expert committee comprising officials and technical experts within a week to resolve pending inter-state water issues related to Krishna and Godavari river projects between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Centre to form panel to resolve Andhra-Telangana water issues The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Union Jal Shakti minister CR Patil with Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy and his Andhra Pradesh counterpart N Chandrababu Naidu, along with irrigation ministers of both states at Shram Shakti Bhavan in New Delhi. 'To address the remaining issues in a comprehensive and technical manner, it was decided to constitute a committee,' the Jal Shakti ministry said in a statement, adding the committee will collaboratively assess outstanding issues and recommend equitable and technically viable solutions. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Revanth Reddy said both states decided to form a committee of officials and engineers to deliberate on water disputes. 'The committee's report will guide future action,' the Telangana CM said. While Andhra Pradesh irrigation minister Nimmala Ramanaidu said his government had submitted a written proposal to the Centre on the controversial Polavaram Banakacherla Link Project (PBLP), the Telangana CM said the issue did not come up for discussion at all. 'The Polavaram-Banakacherla project issue wasn't part of the agenda. So, the question of having a discussion on the issue and debating its cancellation did not arise,' the Congress leader said. 'The meeting went on in a cordial manner and the outcome was in favour of Telangana… Some people want conflicts between the states. But our agenda is to resolve disputes peacefully, not to provoke fights.' The meeting also saw agreement on installing telemetry instruments at all off-take points along the Krishna river and its canals to measure the exact quantity of water being drawn by both the states. 'We requested the Centre to support telemetry installation due to doubts about Krishna water usage. Even if the Centre does not fund it, the Telangana government will allocate funds. The previous government showed no urgency, but we've now decided to move forward,' Telangana irrigation minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy said. Both states also agreed that the Godavari River Management Board will be headquartered in Telangana, while the Krishna River Management Board will be based in Andhra Pradesh, he said. His Andhra Pradesh counterpart Ramanaidu said: 'This committee will draft a roadmap to provide justice to both states. Though governed by different parties, we are Telugu people and must work together.' He added that Andhra Pradesh had agreed to take steps for the protection of Srisailam project. 'The meeting discussed the need to take up repairs and safety measures. The Centre will act based on the expert committee's recommendations,' Ramanaidu added. The TDP leader said that Andhra Pradesh had submitted its proposal on the Polavaram-Banakacherla project which would utilise only surplus water flowing into the sea. 'We presented 100-year flow averages in the river, noting that 3,000 TMC of Godavari water enters the sea annually, and the project would divert only 200 TMC,' he added. The NDA-led Andhra Pradesh government said the project would not harm upper riparian states and urged Telangana and the Centre to understand its position being a lower riparian state. It also emphasised that the state had not opposed any Telangana project in the last 11 years.
News18
5 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Andhra-Telangana Meeting With Jal Shakti Ministry Washes Away Some Water-Sharing Disputes
The meeting between CR Patil, N Chandrababu Naidu, and A Revanth Reddy lasted for more than 90 minutes In a significant step towards resolving interstate river water issues, the chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, along with their respective irrigation ministers and senior officials, participated in a high-level meeting convened by the union ministry of Jal Shakti in New Delhi on Wednesday. The discussions, which focused on the sharing and management of Krishna and Godavari river waters, were held in a cordial and cooperative atmosphere, said sources. The meeting between CR Patil, N Chandrababu Naidu, and A Revanth Reddy lasted for more than 90 minutes. Key agreements reached included the decision to install telemetry systems at reservoir outflows and canal entry points to ensure accurate measurement and transparency in water usage. The proposal, originally suggested by Telangana CM Revanth Reddy, was accepted by Andhra Pradesh, marking a breakthrough in building mutual trust. Both states also agreed to undertake immediate repairs and protection works for the Srisailam Project, a critical irrigation asset for the region. The restoration will be executed jointly, as per Telangana's proposal, signalling a spirit of collaboration between the two Telugu states. A major outcome of the meeting was the decision to form a joint committee comprising technical experts and senior officers from both states. This committee, which will be formally set up by next Monday, has been tasked with addressing all outstanding technical issues, including long-pending water projects in the Krishna and Godavari basins such as Polavaram, Banakacherla, and others. The Centre has directed the committee to work swiftly and submit a feasible report within a short timeframe. In terms of institutional arrangements, it was agreed that the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) will be based in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, while the Godavari River Management Board (GRMB) will remain in Hyderabad, Telangana. The union ministry of Jal Shakti will supervise the functioning of the committee and coordinate inter-state consultations whenever needed. Government sources described the outcome as a 'positive development," adding that the Centre had strongly encouraged both states to come to the table and engage in dialogue to resolve disputes. The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to the principle of 'Telugu states, one people", emphasising mutual respect and cooperation. If required, the Centre may convene another round of talks at the level of chief ministers or through an apex committee to further accelerate the resolution process. Both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have also been advised to hold regular interstate meetings to address ongoing concerns and chart a path forward in a time-bound manner. view comments First Published: July 17, 2025, 05:24 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Telugu states decide to form committee to resolve irrigation disputes
Vijayawada: To resolve disputes on irrigation projects involving various technical issues, the chief ministers of both Telugu states on Wednesday decided to constitute a committee with irrigation experts, officials from both states, and the Central Water Commission (CWC). The Union Jal Shakti minister, CR Patil, held a coordination meeting with the chief ministers of AP and Telangana, officials from the irrigation department, and the CWC on Wednesday to discuss the pending issues between the states. Though the controversial Polavaram–Banakacharla project was also on the agenda, the meeting ended without much discussion on it. Telangana, which opposes the project, informed the Union Jal Shakti Ministry that it is not willing to participate in any discussion on the project. However, Andhra Pradesh irrigation minister Nimmala Ramanaidu announced that the high-power committee, to be constituted within a week, will also deal with the Banakacharla project. Ramanaidu said that the committee will examine the technical aspects involved in the Banakacharla project and also the surplus water in the Godavari river going into the sea (about 3000 tmc ft of water) every year. He said that the committee will also examine the ongoing projects in both states and will suggest steps to be taken to resolve the issues amicably between the two states. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Поза во сне может многое рассказать о вашем характере! Удивительные Новости Undo by Taboola by Taboola The meeting did not discuss much on the new projects proposed by Telangana and was confined to existing pending disputes. The meeting brought consensus on three major issues. Both states agreed to install telemetry meters to measure the outflow going into the canals from reservoirs shared by both states. Both states also agreed upon the repair works to be undertaken at the Srisailam plunge pool. The third decision taken in the meeting was that both states agreed to set up the Godavari River Management Board (GRMB) in Hyderabad and the Krishna River Water Management Board (KRMB) in Amaravati.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Krishna tribunal granted a year's extension, Jal Shakti minister meets CMs of Andhra, Telangana to resolve disputes
Union Jal Shakti minister C R Patil (PTI file photo) NEW DELHI: Days after granting an extension to the Ravi and Beas Waters Tribunal, the country's oldest water disputes tribunal, the centre has extended the tenure of the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal as well. Constituted in April 2004 to adjudicate the river water-sharing dispute among Maharashtra, Karnataka and erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, the Krishna tribunal has got an extension of another year, with effect from August 1. The Krishna tribunal is one of the four active river-water tribunals in the country, which have got extensions year after year, as they have not managed to come up with an acceptable decision despite their extended tenures. 'The said tribunals were constituted to adjudicate disputes between two or more states and therefore need to work towards early resolution, particularly since such disputes involve public interest and public welfare. Given the wide-reaching implications of such adjudication, I believe the proceedings should be completed in a time-bound manner while also adhering to the procedural laws,' said Khushal Garg, a Delhi high court advocate who has been following the issue. Noting that granting repeated extensions dilutes the essence of justice, he said, 'The Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 may be amended to incorporate fixed timelines for final decisions, as it would expedite the resolution process'. The terms of reference of the 21-year-old Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal were amended last year to accommodate the water-sharing concerns of a fourth state, Telangana, as well, factoring in issues arising out of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014. Meanwhile, Union Jal Shakti minister C R Patil on Wednesday convened a meeting with chief minister of Andhra Pradesh N Chandrababu Naidu and chief minister of Telangana A Revanth Reddy to address the prevailing water-related issues between the two states. It was decided at the meeting to set up a committee in a week to resolve the dispute between the two states over the proposed Polavaram–Banakacherla Link Project (PBLP). Both states agreed on the installation of telemetry devices for real-time monitoring of water flows in the Krishna Basin. It was also agreed that immediate measures would be taken to address maintenance issues to safeguard Srisailam dam. Further, the two states decided that the office of Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) would be shifted to Vijayawada or Amravati. Besides the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal and Ravi and Beas tribunal, the other two active tribunals are the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal for Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka (set up in Nov 2010), and Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal for Odisha and Chhattisgarh (Mar 2018). Suggesting a way out to arrive at a certain decision in such long pending disputes, Garg said that the working of the Vansadhara Water Dispute Tribunal could also be referred to as how the Tribunal has given two decisions, one interim and the other as its final decision in the dispute. "So far as the interim order was concerned, the same was challenged before the Supreme Court. Despite the pendency of the challenge before the apex court, the Tribunal proceeded with the matter as there was no stay order passed by the Supreme Court and passed the final order on the reference made. Consequently, the Tribunal was dissolved by the central government with effect from March 10, 2022," he said.
