AMARAVATI: The decision of Telangana government to continue generation of hydel power at major inter-state irrigation projects, Srisailam, Nagarjunasagar and Pulichintala, has escalated tension between AP and Telangana prompting both states to deploy police forces at the project sites on Thursday.
Although the police forces have confined to the protection of key installations at the projects, the heavy deployment has triggered panic among officials working at the plant sites.
This is the third time in six years that both states have deployed police personnel in large numbers at the dams. Earlier, on February 13, 2015 police personnel of both states clashed with each other in full public view at Nagarjunasagar dam site.
AP irrigation engineer-in-chief C Narayana Reddy sent a letter to Krishna River Management Board member secretary seeking stoppage of power generation by Telangana at Srisaialm, Nagarjunasagar and Pulichintala.
In an attempt to ease the tension, J Ramesh Babu, superintending engineer, KL Rao Sagar Pulichintala project, on Thursday met officials of Telangana State Generation Corporation (TSGenco) in Telangana and requested them to immediately stop power generation to prevent wastage of water.
Pulichintala is the last dam on the river Krishna and any water released from the dam will reach the Bay of Bengal.
The Prakasam barrage downstream has limited capacity to withhold water from Pulichintala.
Amidst heavy security, Ramesh Babu reached the hydro-electrical power station located on the other side of the state and submitted a memorandum to TS Genco officials.
Water released will go to waste as agri ops yet to start, says SE
“Generation of power by Telangana is against the operational procedures adopted by both states. Power can be generated only when AP submits its requisition for release of water for its irrigation needs,” said Ramesh Babu. He said that KL Rao Sagar Pulichintala project was chiefly designed to protect the irrigation needs of Krishna delta covering over 14 lakh acres in Krishna, Guntur and West Godavari districts. He said farmers in the Krishna delta are yet to start agriculture operations and hence there is no need of water for irrigation canals. In such a situation, the entire quantum of water released through power generation would go into sea resulting in severe hardship to farmers, the SE explained.
He wanted the TS Genco officials to stop power generation to prevent waste of water required for agriculture sector. Pulichintala project is now left with about 16 tmc of water, which according to AP is being put to unauthorised use by Telangana from June 29. Nalgonda DIG AV Ranganath and Guntur rural district superintendent of police Vishal Gunni were present during the negotiations.
Kurnool SP Fakeerappa said that they have deployed police forces at Srisailam project as a safety measure and advised people not to reach the reservoir site.
