The Centre on Wednesday resolved to constitute a committee within a week to end the war between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on the proposed Polavaram–Banakacherla Link Project (PBLP) and other river water disputes. The decision on this front was made in a high-level meeting headed by Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and his Telangana counterpart A Revanth Reddy attended along with their respective ministers in charge of water resources.
The Jal Shakti Ministry, in a meeting, agreed to constitute a committee that would address the technical issues of the project as well as Godavari and Krishna river water issues, a statement said. The ministry also agreed in the meeting to install telemetry instruments at off-take locations of reservoirs on the two rivers.
"To discuss the outstanding issues in an holistic and technical way, the decision was taken to form a committee," the Ministry of Jal Shakti released a statement.
The committee, with senior officials and technical specialists drawn from both the states as well as the central government, will work together to analyse the outstanding issues and recommend feasible solutions for ensuring equitable and efficient water-sharing, it added.
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Addressing media after the meeting, Reddy informed that the decision to set up a technical committee is a testimony to a common desire for amicable resolution of the conflict.
"Three decisions were made in the meeting. Because technical matters are involved in the Polavaram–Banakacherla Project, it was decided to establish a committee within a week's time," Andhra Pradesh Minister for Water Resources Nimmala Ramanaidu informed reporters.
The panel, consisting of experienced engineers and subject matter experts from both the sides, would examine technical issues raised by Telangana regarding Krishna-Godavari river water matters and the PMLP and determine a road map, he added.
Ramanaidu explained the planned PMLB to divert 200 TMC of Godavari floodwater to drought-hit areas through Banakacherla is vital for Andhra's water security, and needs to be debated with technical clarity and consensus.
This committee would be a starting point to prepare a technical/administrative roadmap for imparting justice to both the states. The problems are regarding two different states governed by two different parties but "Telugu people are one," he stated.
"Keeping this in mind, amicable talks were conducted to address the issues," he further added.
Telangana Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy also stated that the committee would go through all pending and contentious matters within a month.
The PBLP is a flagship inter-basin river linking project mooted by the government of Andhra Pradesh and seeks to mitigate water deficit in drought-prone areas, particularly Rayalaseema, by diverting excess water from the Godavari river to the Krishna and Penna basins through a system of reservoirs, canals and lift irrigation schemes.
Telangana regards the project as a danger to its water security and a breach of interstate pacts, while Andhra considers it an imperative project to meet water shortage in Rayalaseema through surplus floodwater.
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