JOIN USThe seven Rs 50,000 crore-Jalayagnam projects in the state, formulated banking on the surplus 300 tmc Krishna waters, are under different stages of construction and the state has so far spent about Rs 32,000 crore on projects in Galeru-Nagari, Kalwakurthy, Handri-Neva and Veligonda.
The state cabinet, in its meeting on Thursday, reviewed at length the Krishna Water Dispute Tribunal’s award and is contemplating initiating appropriate steps to off-set the “gross injustice meted out to Andhra Pradesh”.
As per the tribunal’s verdict, the AP’s share now of the surplus waters would be 190 tmc, whereas Karnataka would get 170 tmc for Karnataka and Maharashtra, 88 tmc. According to former Chief Engineer (Irrigation) C L N Sastry, “The effect will be two-pronged as the surplus waters have to be shared by all the three states. Also, Karnataka is allowed to raise the height of the controversial Almatti dam from 519.60 meters to 524.265 meters.”
To add to this, AP will have to release the required amount 7 tmc of water to Chennai to meet its drinking water demands, as there may not be any inflows from Karnataka and Maharashtra when required.
The tribunal’s verdict triggered off a wave of protests from various political parties and official circles besides the farming community, which had pinned hopes on the under-construction Jalayagnam projects. The Telugu Desam Party even blamed the state government for failing to ensure that the state’s case was properly argued .