Karnataka   

MPs, MLCs appeal against allowing diversion of Tungabhadra water

Raichur: MPs, MLCs and the former legislators from Koppal and Raichur districts have urged the Governor to initiate action against diverting the allocated waters from the Tungabhadra meant for “river release” with a view to facilitating the augmentation of drinking water supply in towns and villages along the river course during the summer.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, N.S. Bose Raju, former president of the district unit of the Congress, said that of the available storage at the Tungabhadra Reservoir, about 8 tmcft of water had been allocated as “river release” under the quota reserved for Andhra Pradesh. This allocation can be released into the river, as and when required, when the people living in towns and villages along the river course face any shortage of drinking water supply, especially during the summer. The Tungabhadra Board was the final authority in handling the utilisation of water as per the allocations.

He said that the river runs through Koppal, Raichur and Bellary districts and the interests of human habitats along the river course in these districts have to be protected. Stoppage of water in the river course would not only affect the ecological balance but also the irrigation and drinking water needs of the people.

However, it was noticed that recently Andhra Pradesh had managed to utilise 4 tmcft from its river quota for irrigation by diverting water through the Tungabhadra Right Bank High Level Canal. Though Andhra Pradesh has rights for such diversion of water reserved for “river release”, its act would affect the availability of water in the river causing shortage of drinking water, he said.

He said that a delegation consisting of MPs A. Venkatesh Naik (Raichur) and K. Veerupakshappa (Koppal), MLC K.C. Kondaiah and some former legislators from Koppal and Raichur, including himself, met the Governor last week and submitted to him a memorandum seeking action in the matter on humanitarian grounds.

Mr. Raju said that the delegation submitted another memorandum to the Governor on the issue of modernisation of the Tungabhadra Left Bank Canal (TLBC). It appealed to him to arrange for adequate funds in the coming budget for implementing the recommendations of the H.S. Chiniwal Committee during the closure period of the canal.

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