Latest news with #TeluguGangaProject


New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Andhra drawing excess water through KC Canal: Telangana
HYDERABAD: Arguments before the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal resumed on Wednesday, with a primary focus on the KC (Kurnool-Cuddapah) Canal issue concerning Andhra Pradesh. Telangana's counsel argued that the KC Canal was originally developed in 1860 with the consent of the erstwhile Hyderabad state, under the condition that no objections would be raised in the future if Hyderabad chose to divert water. The counsel also cited a 1944 agreement between the erstwhile Hyderabad and Madras governments, which stipulated equal utilisation of water through the KC Canal (Madras, now Andhra Pradesh) and the Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme (RDS) of Hyderabad. As per the agreement, the KC Canal was to utilise 10 tmcft of water, while RDS would use 17.1 tmcft -- of which 15.9 tmcft was for Telangana and 1.2 tmcft for Karnataka. These figures were also presented by the Central Water and Power Commission during the Inter-State Conference in 1951. However, the Telangana counsel contended that Andhra Pradesh had disregarded this agreement and increased the KC Canal's utilisation to 39.9 tmcft, subsequently obtaining this allocation from the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-I (KWDT-I). He further stated that the actual average utilisation by Andhra Pradesh stands at 54 tmcft, significantly exceeding the allocation. The Telangana counsel also highlighted that AP had failed to disclose the contribution of tributaries like Nippulavagu, Galeru, and Kundu -- amounting to 5.2 tmcft -- to the KC Canal's command area during proceedings before the KWDT-I. When the tribunal inquired about the quantum of water being diverted through the escape channel, Telangana's counsel pointed out that AP was objecting to the installation of telemetry systems at the Banakacherla complex, where the escape channel regulator is located. He argued that unless telemetry is installed at all regulators within the complex, it would be impossible to accurately account for water releases to the KC Canal, Srisailam Right Bank Canal (SRBC), and Telugu Ganga Project (TGP). According to Telangana's assessment, the total water availability to the KC Canal is 45.1 tmcft (39.9 tmcft allocation + 5.2 tmcft from tributaries), while the scientifically assessed crop water requirement for the KC Canal command area is only 18.51 tmcft. Telangana argued that the surplus of 26.59 tmcft should be reallocated to in-basin projects within Telangana.


Hans India
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Telugu People should remain grateful to NTR: Somireddy
Nellore: Sarvepalle MLA Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy has said that people of both Telugu speaking States should remain grateful to former CM of unified Andhra Pradesh Padmasree NT Rama Rao, who brought recognition to Telugu people and upheld self-respect across the world by establishing TDP in 1983. He spoke during the centenary celebrations of NTR organised in Sidney of Australia, the MLA said that it is highly impossible for any political party to emerge to power within a span of a few months, but NTR made it possible within 11 months of establishing TDP. Recalling his long association with NTR since the formation of the party in 1983, Somireddy said that during anti-arrack movement was rampant in 1991 in Nellore district, NTR came to Nellore following the invitation of All Party Struggle Committee, and promised to impose total ban on liquor. As per the assurance, former CM NT Rama Rao implemented total ban after TDP came to power in 1994, even after knowing that it will cause huge loss. The MLA said that NT Rama Rao was responsible for the construction of Telugu Ganga Project, introduction of kilo rice@ Rs 2, construction of pakka houses. He alleged that the YSRCP came to power in 2019 by promising liquor ban but it did liquor trade as Rs 10,000 crores liquor scam was witnessed during its five-year tenure.


Time of India
03-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Release water at 500 cusecs: TN to Andhra Pradesh
Chennai: Tamil Nadu Water Resources Department (WRD) has asked Andhra Pradesh govt to release water from Kandaleru reservoir at 500 cubic feet per second (cusecs), up from the current 375 cusecs. Initially, Andhra Pradesh was releasing water only at 60 cusecs, gradually ramping up over recent weeks. During a recent visit to Andhra Pradesh, WRD officials reiterated their demand, citing the rising water needs of Chennai and its suburbs. The Sai Ganga Canal, which conveys the water, can handle up to 1,000 cusecs, making the requested increase feasible. WRD estimates that of the 500 cusecs released, around 480 cusecs will reach the zero point after accounting for evaporation losses. Chennai's water supply remains stable, bolstered by steady inflow from key sources, including the Veeranam tank in Cuddalore, contributing to the city's daily supply of 1,050 million litres via Metrowater. In the past three years, Metrowater did not rely on alternative reserves such as the Sikkarayapuram and Erumaiyur quarries or agricultural wells in Tiruvallur, thanks to favourable monsoons. The recent northeast monsoon added significant rainfall, delaying any need to tap into reserves. As of Tuesday, the Poondi reservoir holds 1,569 million cubic feet (mcft) against its full capacity of 3,231mcft. Water from Kandaleru is expected to continue flowing until next year, with officials hopeful that the next monsoon will further replenish storage. Part of the Telugu Ganga Project, the Kandaleru reservoir remains crucial to Chennai's long-term water security. WRD maintains that raising the discharge to 500 cusecs is essential to ensure uninterrupted supply in the coming months.


Hans India
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Land acquisition for SHLC soon: Anam
Nellore: Endowments Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy has said that as part of the initiative in completing the irrigation projects, the government has decided to start land acquisition related to Somasila High Level Canal (SHLC) very soon. Addressing a press conference at his camp office here on Sunday, the Minister disclosed that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has ordered the Chief Secretary to release funds for SHLC land acquisition in the recent Cabinet meeting. He said if SHLC is completed, farmers of Atmakur constituency will have enough water for both agriculture operations and drinking water purpose in the coming days. Alleging that the previous government totally neglected irrigation projects, Anam said that it was Chief Minister Naidu, who is giving top priority to complete pending projects in the State. As part of this initiative, Handri Neeva Sujala Sravanthi works came to completion and water will be released for irrigation to Kuppam constituency, represented by the CM, by ending of this year. The Minister stated that he witnessed water being released hardly to 1.8 lakh acres during his 45-year-long political journey, but for the first time in the history of Nellore district, water was released for 5.24 lakh acres during second crop in the erstwhile Nellore district. He analysed that apart from 22 tmcft of water allocated for two lakh acres in delta area, 16 tmcft for 1.64 lakh acres in non-delta areas from Somasila reservoir. Another 16 tmcft from Telugu Ganga Project for 36,000 acres in Venkatagiri, Sullurpet and Gudur constituencies in the erstwhile Nellore district and 1.24 lakh acres in Srikalahasti and Sullurpet constituencies and 10 tmcft of water for Tirupati and Srikalahasti town for drinking water purpose. On this occasion, Minister Anam has distributed Rs 37 lakh to 22 beneficiaries under CMRF in Atmakur constituency.


The Hindu
02-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Farmers' forum seeks completion of Telugu Ganga project
Activists of the Rayalaseema Sagu Neeti Sadhana Samithi on Friday (May 2) staged a protest in front of the Tehsildar's office at Rudravaram in the district, demanding that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu take steps to immediate complete the Telugu Ganga Project and irrigation canals linked to it to address the perennial drought conditions in Rayalaseema. President of the organisation Bojja Dasaratharami Reddy said the project was the brainchild of former Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh N.T. Rama Rao, and was conceptualised as a lifeline for Rayalaseema, known for recurring droughts. The project had aimed at drawing water from the Srisailam reservoir; supplying drinking water to Chennai; and allocating 29 tmcft of Krishna river water to Kurnool and Kadapa districts. It had also planned to irrigate 2.75 lakh acres in the region. The forum leader said that decades on, the project remains incomplete, rendering thousands of acres of agricultural land barren and leaving the farmers at the mercy of rains. 'Several village tanks in Kurnool and Nandyal districts are also in need of repairs,' he added. The forum leaders petitioned the Tehsildar in this connection.