Telugu States indulge in no-holds barred attack

The water row between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh over the latter's controversial project across the River Krishna has turned bitter with the leaders from the two Telugu States indulging in a no-holds barred attack.

The inter-State dispute over sharing of Krishna waters came to the fore again this week following reports that Andhra Pradesh is going ahead with the construction of the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Project (RLIP) despite the orders of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to stop the work.

Ignoring the objections of Telangana, the Andhra government reportedly executed work relating to the RLIP during the second wave of Covid-19.

Telangana says that RLIP will badly affect its interests while Andhra maintains that it is not using more water than what was allotted to it under the water sharing agreement.

"If Andhra diverts five tmcft of water every day, our five districts will be badly affected," said Telangana's Energy Minister Jagadish Reddy.

The water disputes between the two States have their roots in the pre-Telangana era. Leaders of the Telangana region in combined Andhra Pradesh had always complained about the injustice meted out to the region in allocation of rivers waters and construction of irrigation projects by successive governments.

In fact injustice in allocation of water resources, funds and jobs was the slogan on which Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) fought for separate statehood to the region.

After Telangana gained statehood in 2014, the disputes over sharing of water intensified as upper riparian state Andhra Pradesh was accused of drawing more water by taking up illegal projects.

The Telangana government headed by TRS chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao has been claiming that it is fighting to safeguard the state's interests.

As per the temporary allocation made after the formation of Telangana State, out of 811 tmcft of Krishna water, Telangana was allotted 299 tmcft and Andhra 512 tmcft. The Telangana government, however, maintains that it should get at least 565 tmcft, with the balance going to Andhra Pradesh.

Telangana has requested the Centre to refer the issue of redistribution of Krishna water by constituting a new tribunal or referring to Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II with new terms of reference.