Hyderabad: The Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) has asked Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to submit details of the original approvals granted for the Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar projects. In separate letters to the two states, the board sought details of the projects’ original designs, water utilisation, canal capacities and ayacut, along with subsequent modifications and additional water requirements.The board said the projects as originally approved would be treated as the baseline, while subsequent changes would be examined in accordance with the directions of the Union ministry of Jal Shakti.The Centre had said in its 2021 notification that 11 components of the Srisailam project and two components of the Nagarjunasagar project were unauthorised. In a letter dated Nov 6, the KRMB also sought details of technical approvals and clearances obtained from central agencies for the subsequent modifications. It pointed out that it was yet to receive responses to its earlier letters dated Sept 21, Oct 1, Oct 16 and Oct 30.The KRMB said the Jal Shakti ministry had clarified on Oct 15 that the allocations made by the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal in 2016 and the projects’ originally approved designs would continue to serve as the basis for assessing water utilisation. The original approval documents are required to examine subsequent changes in the projects’ scope, the addition of new schemes and increases in water requirements.The board has sought details of the projects’ scope and components, water diversion through left and right canals, utilisation patterns, design requirements, ayacut extent and technical clearances. It clarified that the information was being collected without prejudice to the rights and claims of either state.
