HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh will release 12 tmcft (thousand million cubic feet) of water from the Telugu Ganga to Chennai from August 15.

It will refer the design of the irrigation project across the Palar in Chittoor district to Tamil Nadu before commencing work.

Assurances

These assurances were given by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy to a high-level delegation from Tamil Nadu, led by Minister for Local Administration M.K. Stalin, at a meeting here on Saturday.

Dr. Reddy suggested that Tamil Nadu bring pressure on Maharashtra and Karnataka to release their share of 5 tmcft to Chennai. Mr. Stalin agreed to the suggestion.

Addressing a joint press conference with Mr. Stalin, the Chief Minister said the issue of constituting a Krishna Water Authority was pending with the Krishna Water Tribunal. The authority, proposed for monitoring flows in the Krishna, could also verify whether the water was released to Chennai.

He said the work on lining the Telugu Ganga canal between Kandaleru and Poondi would be stopped forthwith to facilitate water release.

Storage in reservoirs near Chennai would be sufficient only for a month.

"Tamil Nadu is keen on improving the stretch of the canal between Srisailam and Kandaleru. We will do it in two years," he said.

Fears allayed

This was the third year in a row Telugu Ganga water was being released for Chennai. Last year, 3.67 tmcft was supplied and the year before that 2.81 tmcft, against a commitment to provide 12 tmcft.

Prospects of stepping up the supply this year were bright as 28 tmcft was available at Kandaleru.

Allaying fears that the Palar project would affect water availability for Vellore district and the Kalpakkam nuclear power plant, he said these concerns would be suitably addressed. The project was still under investigation and its design, once ready, would be referred to Tamil Nadu.

He assured that not more than 2.68 tmcft would be used under the project, that too for Kuppam, a drought-prone area.

Tamil Nadu Public Works Minister K. Ponmudi who accompanied Mr Stalin along with officials, expressed satisfaction at the outcome.

Andhra Pradesh Major Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah was present.

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