The government of Andhra Pradesh is said to have opposed the plans. (File)
Hyderabad:
Following complaints from Andhra Pradesh, the boards of Godavari and Krishna on Saturday ordered the government of Telangana not to proceed with new projects in the respective interstate rivers until the proposals be assessed and the sanction obtained from the High Council of the two States.
The Godavari River Management Board (GRMB) and the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) have forwarded this information in separate but similar letters to the Telangana Senior Secretary of Irrigation.
The letters indicated that such projects without the necessary approvals, as mentioned by the Andhra Pradesh government, violated the provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Law (APRA).
Noting that he was intervening in the case in accordance with directives from the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, under which they operate, the two councils declared that the state was not proceeding with the projects until to the assessment by them and the Central Water Commission and the authorization of the Apex Council on the water resources of the rivers of the two neighboring States.
The counsel referred to the Andhra Pradesh government’s statement in its letters of May 14 that the new projects “violated” APRA.
No new project can be undertaken on the Godavari or Krishna rivers without having obtained the approval of the superior council constituted according to the APRA, underlined the letters of May 19 of the councils.
Consequently, the adoption of new projects without evaluation by the GRMB or the KRMB as the case may be and without sanction from the higher council, as mentioned in letters from the governments of Andhra Pradesh, was a violation of the provisions of APRA, have said the boards.
In addition, a board meeting will be convened immediately to deliberate on the issue, they added.
The Andhra Pradesh government has reportedly opposed projects, including Godavari (Devadula) Phase III.
Meanwhile, sources indicate that the KRMB and GRMB meetings were held on June 4 and 5, respectively.
Sources also said that A Parmesham was in office as president of the KRMB, Hyderabad, with immediate effect, until further notice.
When contacted, Telangana (Irrigation) senior secretary Rajat Kumar said that all projects supported by the state government had received the necessary approvals and would follow the instructions of both councils .
All the projects we do are either those launched under Jalayagnam (irrigation mission started in undivided AP) or if they have been redesigned, adequate authorizations like the authorities concerned CWC, the higher council have been taken “, a he declared.
The KRMB recently ordered the government of Andhra Pradesh not to proceed with irrigation projects to draw water from the Srisailam reservoir until the assessment is obtained from the KRMB, CWC and of the summit council.
The government of Telangana had opposed the projects proposed by the neighbor.
