Getting its rightful share of water resources will be crucial for Telangana. Andhra Pradesh is endowed with three major inter-state rivers — Godavari, Krishna, and Pennar — and over 30 other medium and minor rivers. Several other rivers flow through into Tamil Nadu.
Dependable flows into the State are estimated at about 2,769 thousand million cubic feet (tmc) with the Godavari yielding 1,480 tmc, Krishna yielding 811 tmc and Pennar, 98 tmc.
Water from the Krishna is fully harnessed through several multipurpose projects and barrages. But the State is able to harness only 742 tmc in the Godavari. Unused water from the Godavari is estimated to be about 3,000 tmc.
Allocation concerns
The people of Telangana believe that the Godavari’s water is being diverted to coastal Andhra while the Krishna water goes to Rayalaseema. In spite of having a larger catchment area, Telangana has less irrigated land than Andhra. The area under cultivation through tanks has come down from 12 lakh acres to 5 lakh acres, forcing farmers in the region to use pump sets.
An expert committee appointed to analyse issues relating to water use had found that the net area sown in Telangana was 40.57 lakh hectares as against total area of 115 lakh hectares. In the Andhra region it is 39.34 lakh hectares versus a total area of 92.91 lakh hectares. In Rayalaseema it is 27.65 lakh hectares against a total area of 67.30 lakh hectares.
The low-level water flow in Godavari is another big concern for Telangana as it requires lift irrigation projects.
These projects require additional power and investments in pumping systems. The Pranahitha-Chevella project aims to address these issues.
The Pranahitha project, for instance, envisages impounding about 160 tmc and providing irrigation to about 16.40 lakh acres.
The Rs 38,500 crore project is seeking national project status from the Government, which will entitle it to central funds.