Andhra Pradesh government, which welcomed the gazette notification issued by the Central government two weeks ago taking control of operation and maintenance of all the major irrigation projects on Krishna and Godavari rivers, is now said to be in second thoughts.
Irrigation experts are learnt to have brought to the notice of the state government that the notification would do more harm than good to the state, it would have serious ramifications in river water utilisation in future.
According to these experts, Andhra Pradesh would be the loser on the projects on Krishna river, as it is the lower riparian state.
“If there are good inflows into the reservoirs, it might not be an issue, but in a relatively dry year, it cannot draw water if the upper riparian states want to utilise the water as per their allocations,” an expert said.
The argument for utilisation of water on pro-rata basis by the riparian states may not stand, as it involves the other two states – Karnataka and Maharashtra as well.
“Since the projects are being handed over to the Krishna River Management Board, the water sharing would also be decided by the Centre. As a result, for every drop of water, we may have to beg the Centre. In the coming years, it will seriously hamper the interests of state’s irrigation and drinking water interests,” the expert said.
Sources said the state government is contemplating moving the Supreme Court seeking changes in the gazette notification issued by the Centre.
Apparently, it wants only three projects – Srisailam, Nagarjunasagar and Pulichintala to be under the control of KRMB and leave all the other projects, new and old, to the state government.
The issue is likely to come up for discussion in the next cabinet meeting. Meanwhile, the Telangana cabinet, too, will take a call on the centre’s gazette notification at its meeting on Sunday.