Godavari, Krishna river boards restrain Telangana govt from going ahead with new projects

Acting on complaints by Andhra Presh, manment boards of Godavari and Krishna on Saturday directed Telangana government t to go ahe with new projects across respective inter-state rivers till proposals were appraised and sanction obtained from apex council of two states.

Godavari River Manment Board (GRMB) and Krishna River Manment Board (KRMB) conveyed this in separate but similar letters to Telangana Principal Irrigation Secretary.

letters said such projects without necessary approvals, as mentioned by AP government, violated provisions of Andhra Presh Reorganisation Act (APRA).

ting that it was intervening in matter as per directives of Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, under which y function, two boards said state shall t go ahe with projects till appraisal by m and Central Water Commission and clearance from Apex Council on River Water Resources of two neighbouring states.

boards referred to Andhra Presh government's contention in its May 14 letters to m that new projects 'violated' APRA.

new projects can be taken up on Godavari or Krishna rivers without obtaining sanction from apex council constituted as per APRA, May 19 letters from boards pointed out.

Hence taking up new projects without an appraisal by GRMB or KRMB as case may be and without sanction from Apex Council, as mentioned in Andhra Presh governments letters, was a violation of provisions of APRA, boards said.

Furr, a meeting of boards will be convened immediately to deliberate on matter, y ded.

Andhra Presh government has reportedly objected to projects, including Godavari (Devula) Phase III.

Meanwhile, sources said meetings of KRMB and GRMB have been convened on June 4 and 5 respectively Sources also said A Parmesham is posted as Chairperson of KRMB, Hyderab, with immediate effect, till furr orders.

When contacted, Telangana Principal Secretary (Irrigation) Rajat Kumar said all projects taken up by state government were with due approvals and that y will abide by instructions of two boards.

All projects which we are doing are eir ones which are started under Jalayagnam (irrigation mission started in undivided AP) or if y have been re-engineered, equate permissions like concerned authorities CWC, apex council have been taken," he said.

KRMB has recently directed Andhra Presh government t to go ahe with irrigation schemes to draw water from Srisailam reservoir till appraisal is got from KRMB, CWC and apex council.

Telangana government h objected to projects proposed to be taken up by neighbour.