TN urges AP to release more Krishna water for Chennai

Vijayawada: Tamil Nadu chief minister O. Panneerselvam met his Andhra Pradesh counterpart, N Chandrababu Naidu in Vijayawada on January 12, to seek further release of Krishna water to meet the drinking water needs of Chennai city.

Chandrababu Naidu has assured sympathetic consideration. It is learnt that AP may release 2.5 tmcft of Krishna water for Chennai.

Panneerselvam  thanked Naidu for immediately accepting Tamil Nadu’s request to release Krishna water from Kandaleru Reservoir for Chennai City. The officers of the Government of Andhra Pradesh were also thanked for ensuring the flow of water from January 9. He stressed that this was possible only because of the goodwill and mutual understanding between the two States.

Panneerselvam emphasized that Tamil Nadu was mainly dependent on the North-East monsoon which has totally failed this season leading to a drought situation in the State. It was further indicated that Chennai City largely depends on the rainfall during the North-East monsoon for its drinking water supply. This year, the North-East monsoon was grossly insufficient and the rainfall in the area in
and around Chennai was 57% deficient. Even the Vardah Cyclone, which devastated Chennai City and its suburbs in December, 2016 did not bring much rainfall. Water for Chennai City is stored in 4 reservoirs which have a combined gross storage of 11.057 TMC feet. As on date the storage in the 4 reservoirs was just 1.504 TMC feet which is very low and is inadequate to meet the drinking water needs of Chennai City. As a consequence, there is a dire need of assured water supply from the Telugu Ganga Project to support Chennai’s drinking water needs.

He pointed out that as per the Krishna Water Agreement entered into on 18.4.1983, Tamil Nadu has to be supplied 12 TMC feet of water in a year at the Tamil Nadu border. This supply is to be in two spells of 8 TMC feet from July to October and a second spell of  TMC feet from January to April. Hon’ble Chief Minister further mentioned that during 2015-2016, Tamil Nadu did not receive any water from the Telugu Ganga Project. During 2016-2017, Tamil Nadu received only 0.991 TMC feet of water.

He further stated that the agreement also covered the cost sharing for the project towards the common components between Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Tamil Nadu has so far paid Rs.687 crore to the Government of Andhra Pradesh for the project. There are some accounting issues relating to costs which are being reconciled. He mentioned that Government of Tamil Nadu officers have been instructed to make an immediate on account release of funds towards Tamil Nadu’s share of the cost of the project.

Panneerselvam further stated that as information available, on 11th January, 2017, Somasila Reservoir had about 34.81 TMC feet and Kandaleru Reservoir has 13.24 TMC feet of water. The present rate of flow of about 1,000 cusecs released from Kandaleru Reservoir for Chennai drinking water supply is inadequate given the acute drinking water supply position. Hence, Tamil Nadu requested the Andhra Pradesh government to step up the release of water from Kandaleru so that at least 5 TMC feet of water is realised by Tamil Nadu in the coming months.

This was a particularly difficult year for Tamil Nadu and to prevent an acute drinking water crisis in Chennai, adequate water may be released without any disruption. The Chief Minister further requested his Andhra Pradesh counterpart to instruct the officers to step up the release of water from today (12.1.2017) onwards.Naidu pointed out that Andhra Pradesh also had a deficient North East monsoon. However, he stated that he would consider the request of Tamil Nadu positively, and suggested that detailed modalities may be worked out by the officials of both states.

The meeting was attended by TN PWD Minister, Edapadi K. Palanisamy, AP Agriculture minister Prathipati Pulla Rao, AP HRD minister  Ganta Srinivasa Rao, TN CS Girija Vaidyanathan, TN Govgt advisor Sheela Balakrishnan, Ajeya Kallam, Special Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh, S.K.Prabakar, Principal Secretary, Public Works Department,  K.Phanindra Reddy, Principal Secretary, Municipal Administration and Water Supply, and other senior Officials from both Governments.