New Delhi: Telangana has scored a major victory by convincing the Centre to install telemetry instruments on the Krishna River and making Andhra Pradesh agree to take up the restoration and repairs of the Srisailam Dam. These decisions were taken during the meeting of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Chief Ministers A Revanth Reddy and N Chandrababu Naidu in New Delhi on Wednesday, convened by Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil.
Later, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy briefed the media about the four major decisions taken during the meeting. Congress MPs including Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Dr Mallu Ravi and others were also present at the press conference.
Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy said that a key decision was taken to install telemetry instruments at every off-take point of the Krishna river and its canals. “The Krishna river water usage has been a bone of contention between Andhra and Telangana for a long time. Who is using more water, less water, which canal, which reservoir, which ayacut etc. A decision has been taken today – and that is on the insistence of Telangana Chief Minister and myself – that telemetry instruments must be put at every off-take point of Krishna river or canals,” he said.
He explained that while some instruments had already been installed, the decision now was to complete the process across all relevant points. “We said that we would give you funds immediately to Krishna River Management Board to do an exercise of putting telemetry measuring instruments at various points of the Krishna River. That was an important decision taken today,” he added.
On the Srisailam Dam’s safety, the minister said the structure had been showing signs of concern, especially in the plunge pool and other parts, and had not been properly attended to. He pointed out that it was the duty of the Government of Andhra Pradesh to carry out maintenance works. “The National Dam Safety Authority has also expressed concern about the health of the dam. So it was decided today – the Government of India has given directions to the Government of Andhra Pradesh – that the Srisailam Dam will come under them for the purpose of maintenance and immediately, immediately on the most urgent basis, whatever needs to be done, whether it is a plunge pool or other parts of the dam that need urgent work will be done immediately,” he stated.
On the issue of river management boards, Uttam Kumar Reddy recalled an earlier agreement from the 2020 Apex Council meeting and provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, which had proposed a division of the two river boards between the two states. “A final decision was taken that one of the river management boards the two river management boards, Krishna and Godavari – one will be located in Telangana and one will be located in Andhra. This is just a ratification of the earlier decision. So the Godavari Management Board will be in Telangana and the Krishna River Management Board will be in Andhra,” he said.
He also stated that on all other pending issues related to the Krishna and Godavari rivers, a committee would be constituted soon. “A decision was taken that a committee consisting of senior officers, engineers and experts from both states would be formed in the next 3-4 days or a week, and they will, in the next one month or approximately 30 days, come up with a way forward on all issues concerning the two states on Krishna and Godavari rivers,” he explained.
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy described the outcome as a major victory for Telangana, particularly in securing the agreement for the installation of telemetry instruments on the Krishna river. “Similarly, the rehabilitation of Srisailam Dam, which is of equal importance to Telangana, will be taken up by the Centre and Andhra Pradesh,” he said.
When asked whether the Banakacherla issue was discussed during the meeting, the Chief Minister clarified that it did not come up for discussion. However, he firmly asserted that Telangana was fully prepared to defend its rights. “Telangana is all prepared to fight from Sadak to Sansad for its rights if any such issues come up in the future,” he said.
Revanth Reddy also noted that the proposed committee would identify and deliberate on issues such as water allocations. He clarified that the meeting was not a formal Apex Council meeting, but rather an informal session convened by the Jal Shakti Ministry to facilitate a breakthrough on certain issues pending between the two states.
