CM Jagan writes to PM on Krishna water row, urges him to deploy central forces

AP seeks Centre's intervention in row with Telangana on power generation using water illegally from Krishna

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Thursday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to rein in Telangana from “illegally” drawing water for power generation and sought the deployment of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at common reservoirs to protect the state’s interests along the Krishna river. “Your kind intervention is sought in this regard and I further request that direction be given to the state of Telangana to stop illegal drawal (siphoning) of water for power generation without water release orders from Krishna River Management Board (KRMB),” Jagan wrote to Modi.

He complained that Telangana’s unilateral siphoning of water from Srisailam, Nagarjuna Sagar and Pulichintala reservoirs will jeopardise the drinking and irrigation needs of four Rayalaseema, Nellore and Prakasam districts, including Chennai city’s drinking water requirements. According to the Chief Minister, the Telangana government issued an order on Monday to its power department to generate hydropower at 100 per cent installed capacity, which means the neighbouring state will use 4 tmc, 3 tmc and 1.8 tmc water per day from Srisailam, Nagarjuna and Pulichintala, respectively. He enclosed a copy of the GO to the PM. Jagan stressed that it was imperative that water releases be regulated as per the inflows observed into the reservoirs, available storages and pro-rata entitlements from time to time, as per the agreement and implementation mechanism.