Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister assures O Paneerselvam of 2.5 tmc Krishna water release

Highly placed sources in the Tamil Nadu Public Works Department (PWD) said that the neighbouring state had agreed to release 2.5 tmc of water. Pointing out that the northeast monsoon was grossly insufficient this year with 57 per cent deficiency and the combined storage of four reservoirs being at a dismal 1.50 thousand million cubic feet (tmc) against a full capacity of 11.05 tmc, Panneerselvam requested Nadiu to release at least 5 tmc of water from Kandaleru in the coming months. 

As per the Krishna water agreement that was signed on April 18, 1983, Tamil Nadu has to be supplied 12 tmc of water every year. This is expected in two spells of 8 tmc between July and October and another 4 tmc between January and April. Since January 1, 2016, TN received a total of 0.99 tmc of water and did not receive any water during 2015-16, according to a release. 

The agreement also had stated that TN should cover the cost sharing for the project towards common components between the two states. In this regard, TN has so far paid Rs 687 crore to the AP government. “There are some accounting issues related to costs which are being reconciled. The TN government officials have been instructed to immediately release funds towards the project cost,” the release said. 

In response, the Naidu had stated that he would consider the request of TN positively and suggested that detailed modalities may be worked out by officials of both states. Meanwhile, PWD officials here confirmed that the Andhra Pradesh Irrigation Department has increased the quantum of Krishna water release to 1,500 cusecs from 1,000 cusecs from Wednesday night. They claimed that such an increase at this juncture would add to the storage in Poondi sufficiently enough to mitigate water scarcity that is looming large. 

A senior PWD official said, “There is a possibility for further increase in the amount of water released. We are hoping that our counterparts would increase the amount to 2,000 cusecs in the next few days. Moreover, the released water is expected to reach zero point near Uthukottai on Saturday and flow into Poondi reservoir on Sunday.” This is the first occasion in over 30 years that the state’s CM has personally approached his counterpart for release of Krishna water. 

During 2005-2006, MK Stalin and K Ponmudi, both ministers in the DMK government, met the then AP Chief Minister YSR Reddy and as a result, the AP government released 3.6 tmc of water. A total of 6.6 tmc of water was provided through the project in 2000-01.