By Mohammed Shafeeq
Hyderabad, May 13 (IANS): A water row brewing between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana over a project planned by the former has brought curtains on nearly a year long bonhomie which marked the relations between the two Telugu states after Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSR Congress Party stormed to power in Andhra Pradesh.
The dispute on sharing of river waters, which strained the ties ever since Telangana was carved out of Andhra Pradesh in 2014, is back on centre stage, and threatens to spoil the goodwill created by Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao and his Andhra Pradesh counterpart through series of talks.
Earlier, they had not only agreed to amicably resolve all their water-sharing disputes but also decided to divert water from the Godavari river to the Krishna river to tide over the water scarcity in parts of both the Telugu states.
They had directed irrigation officials from both sides to prepare proposals on diverting water from the Godavari to the Srisailam reservoir across the Krishna river.
While there has been no progress on this, the decision of Andhra Pradesh government to construct a new lift irrigation scheme to lift water from Srisailam has sparked a war of words between the two neighbours.
Terming the move 'unilateral' and 'highly objectionable', Telangana Chief Minister said a legal fight would be initiated to stop Rayalaseema lift irrigation project to draw three tmcft water.
Acting swiftly, the Telangana government lodged a complaint with the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB). It argued that the proposed project is illegal and violates the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014. It said such projects can be initiated or taken up only with the prior approval of the apex council.
In its letter to KRMB, the Telangana government alleged that Andhra Pradesh is trying to enhance the total drawl capacity of water up to eight tmcft daily from Srisailam reservoir, which would adversely impact the interests of the state.
Telangana's contention is that Srisailam reservoir being a common project, Andhra Pradesh cannot plan or initiate any additional diversion of water without consulting Telangana, which is dependent on water from Srisailam to provide drinking water to Hyderabad and several other districts, and various irrigation projects.
Telangana government also alleged that Andhra has been clandestinely diverting water through Pothireddypadu head regulator.
Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed his displeasure over Telangana's reaction and its complaint with KRMB. He made it clear that the state would not draw even a drop of water more than its allocated quota from the Srisailam project.
Jagan also defended the move to widen Pothireddypadu canal to draw surplus floodwater. He said both states could draw from Srisailam only as per quota fixed by Brajesh Kumar Tribunal and monitored by KRMB.
Jagan urged Telangana to see the issue from humanitarian angle as the entire Rayalaseema region, Prakasam and Nellore districts always face drinking water shortage.
Potireddypadu head regulator was a high point of dispute from the days of then Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy. He was accused of acting against the interests of Telangana by increasing its capacity from 11,000 to 45,000 cusec to divert water to Rayalaseema. His son Jagan Mohan Reddy now plans to enhance its capacity to 80,000 cusec.
Both KCR and Jagan during full-fledged talks in June last year had noted that the availability of water in Krishna is less, which is causing hardship in the Rayalaseema region in Andhra Pradesh as well as some districts in Telangana
They have announced that the disputes and issues pertaining to river water sharing have been forgotten in the spirit of "let bygones be bygones" and both the states are in unanimity to provide optimum benefit to their people.
"There are no egos, no disputes over the basins (water), no apprehensions, there is no need for differences or disputes. If we want disputes we cannot give water to our next generations. KCR and Jagan will not think about themselves. They think from the people's angle. People have voted for us with trust. It is our responsibility to do good for them," KCR had said.
"There is availability of 4,000 tmc of water in Krishna and Godavari. By utilising this quantity of water both the states can become very fertile. We have water available in abundance. About 3,000 tmc of water is going into the sea every year. We have to utilise that. We need to have wisdom to utilise the water. It all depends on our efficiency on how much water we can use. There is no use in running around the tribunals and courts for share of water. If both the states think and walk together it is enough. It is enough if both the states have unanimity on utilisation of water in the two rivers for the benefit of people in both the states," KCR had said.
Political observers, however, say it was a mere rhetoric. "Rhetoric apart KCR and Jagan never resolved inter-state disputes. It was only their common ire against former chief minister Chandrababu Naidu that made them look friends,a political analyst Telakapalli Ravi told IANS.
He pointed out that except for Andhra Pradesh handing over secretariat buildings in Hyderabad to Telangana, nothing concretely worked out. "It was only a hype over sharing of Godavari water. Jagan has tactically withdrawn from the projected agreement. Differences remain on division of assets and on issues like division of electricity employees, paying their salaries and recently allowing people at borders both leaders struck to their guns," he said.
He believes that Jagan will not go back on his decision while KCR taking recourse to legal fight will consume time and thus provide fodder to both sides to divert public attention from pressing issues.
"While this one issue may not alter the relations radically, it definitely provides them a chance to champion their respective states," he added.