In a pivotal stride toward centralized water resource governance, the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) is set to oversee the crucial Nagarjuna Sagar and Srisailam dam projects, marking a significant shift in the administration of the Krishna River’s vital resources. This transition not only impacts the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana but also represents a greater initiative for standardized river management.
Operational Shift to Central Authority:
The reins of the Nagarjuna Sagar and Srisailam projects, which straddle the borders of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, are now firmly in the grasp of the KRMB. This resolution emanated from a high-level discourse, convened by Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary of the Department of Water Resources, in the River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Ministry of Jal Shakti.
A Clear Transition Timetable:
According to AP Water Resources’ Executive Engineer, Narayana Reddy, the agreement to hand over the helm of these paramount projects, including the Nagarjuna Sagar and Srisailam, to the KRMB, is firmly established. He underscored that necessary procedural formalities are due for completion within an imminent one-week period, with the actual handover anticipated within the ensuing month.
Addressing Technicalities and Overcoming Disputes:
Further deliberations are on the anvil, scheduled within a fortnight to untangle the technical intricacies associated with the project handover. This includes aspects relating to associated power projects. During initial discussions, a request from Telangana to uphold the operational status quo, as of November 28, met with disapproval, indicating a clear shift towards centralized control.
Mandate for Centralized Management:
As delineated in the KRMB’s jurisdiction notification, dated July 15, 2021, both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are obliged to surrender their irrigation and power projects along the Krishna River into KRMB’s custody, as inscribed in Schedule-2 of the cited Gazette Notification.
Persistent Delays Prompt Action:
Notwithstanding the mandate, the handover of project administration, regulation, and operations endured a stall, as revealed by Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister for Jal Shakti, in the Rajya Sabha in August 2022. The November 28 deadlock over the Nagarjuna Sagar project’s water release operations only propelled the Jal Shakti Ministry to adopt a stringent stance on the matter.
The imminent KRMB’s administration of the Nagarjuna Sagar and Srisailam projects embodies a paradigm shift in the Krishna River water management. Through the centralized board’s governance, both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are poised to witness an overhaul in the resource’s distribution, utilization, and sustainability. As these ventures transition to central oversight, the prospect of a streamlined, equitable, and conflict-free river water management system appears on the horizon.