The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Tungabhadra Board gives State its due share

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Nov 28, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Tungabhadra Board gives State its due share

By Our Staff Reporter

ANANTAPUR, NOV. 27. The Tungabhadra Board, which oversees the release of water to Andhra Pradesh canal systems based on the inter-state Tungabhadra project in Karnataka, has assured the State Government of a flow of 1,800 to 2,000 cusecs to HLC at Andhra Pradesh-Karnataka border.

The Principal Secretary of Irrigation, S.P. Tucker, the District Collector, Y.V. Anuradha, the Anantapur MP, A. Venkatarami Reddy, the Congress legislators -- B. Narayana Reddy (Anantapur) and S. Sailajanath (Singanamala) -- had a meeting with the Board Chairman, V.K. Jyothi, and the Secretary, M. Sivadas, at Bangalore today before the Board meeting.

Poor flow

The HLC system, which serves ayacut in Anantapur, Kurnool and Cuddapah districts and provides drinking water to several towns and villages in the three districts, has been getting a mere 1,100 cusecs at the border due to alleged tapping by Karnataka farmers in the upper reaches of the canal.

However, the indent given by the State to the Board was 2,100 cusecs.

Farmers of ayacut served by Guntakal Branch Canal, Tadipatri Branch Canal and Pulivendula Branch Canal, the sub-systems of HLC, had been suffering acute water shortage to the standing crops for the past fortnight.

Giving details of their meeting with the Board officials over phone, the Anantapur MP told The Hindu that they had informed the Board that the State would draw the entire remaining quantity of water to HLC by December 20.

As per the prorata allocation, the HLC is yet to get more than 3 tmcft of water and the State Government has given another 2 tmcft through re-adjustment within the State quota.

Plea for vigil

The Board officials were also told by the delegation representing the State that the HLC was likely to get additional water through further re-adjustment within the State's quota. They urged the Board officials to maintain proper vigil on the canal in Karnataka limits to prevent tapping of water by Karnataka farmers.

The State delegation also suggested vigilance against water tapping with the help of satellites. The Board officials assured the delegation of discussing all the issues raised by them at the Board meeting and also a minimum of 1,800 cusecs flow in HLC at the border from tomorrow.

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