The Telangana Government has moved the Supreme Court seeking directions to Andhra Pradesh Government to stop the process of tenders for Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Project (RLIP), one of the two components to divert about 8 tmc ft Krishna waters a day from Srisailam reservoir planned by A.P., in violation of the riparian rights of Telangana.
Officials of the Irrigation Department stated about the SLP. A Special Leave Petition (SLP) was filed through the e-filing system. It was filed on the issue by a team of counsel on behalf of the Telangana Government. They said it expected to be listed. They also said it would come up for hearing in a couple of days.
The SLP has been filed as decided at a meeting. Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao chaired the meeting on July 30. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the situation arising out of A.P.’s water diversion plans. They also discussed the KRMB directions to A.P. to stop the process of tenders of RLIP. They decided at the meeting that the Government would continue its relentless fight. The Government would try to stop the project (RLIP) under any circumstances.
The Telangana Government has brought to the Supreme Court’s notice. The notice was that the A.P. Government had set in motion its Krishna water diversion plans. The A.P. Court did not seek any approval from the KRMB and the Apex Council. The A.P. Court did not follow the A.P. Reorganisation Act in the matter of utilizing river waters. The A.P. Government had issued a G.O. (203) on May 5, 2020, specifying its plans to take up RLIP. The Court expanded Pothireddypadu to increase its water drawer capacity to 80,000 cusecs.
Further, Telangana has pointed out that the two plans of A.P. would enable it to draw over eight tmc ft of Krishna water every day. The Pothireddypaddu head regulator system can draw over five tmc ft of water every day. It was proved during the flood season last year. Practically, the water drawal capacity of Pothireddypadu is nearly 60,000 cusecs. Officially, it is 44,000 cusecs, according to a senior Irrigation Department official.
The water drawal capacity of Pothireddypadu was increased to 44,000 cusecs in 2007. Previously it was 14,000 cusecs. It was undermining the riparian rights of Telangana during combined A.P. itself.
Andhra Pradesh’s plans were in gross violation of the existing tribunal award. It has already utilized its entire quota of allocation. It tied up with various irrigation systems. Telangana said this in its petition. It has requested the Supreme Court to stop the tenders process for RLIP.
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