Technical appraisal of PRLIS unlikely anytime soon

Technical appraisal of the much-awaited Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS) is likely to take more time as the Union Jal Shakti Ministry is awaiting a final decision on the sharing of Krishna water between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

According to the Jal Shakti Ministry, the Telangana Government’s allocation of 90 tmcft of water to PRLIS – 45 tmcft of Godavari water diverted into Krishna through Polavaram and another 45 tmcft savings in minor irrigation was referred to the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal – II. Telangana Government had submitted the detailed project report (DPR) of the Palamuru-Rangareddy lift irrigation scheme, and it was referred to the tribunal in light of further Terms of Reference (ToR) notified on Oct 10, 2023.

The Central Water Commission (CWC) had returned the DPR to the Telangana Government, asking it to approach the CWC once the tribunal takes a decision. “Once the sharing arrangement between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana is settled by the tribunal, technical appraisal of PRLIS could commence,” the Ministry said at the 31^st meeting of the Southern Zonal Council (SZC).

The issue figured following Karnataka’s objections to the Telangana Government’s decision to take water for the Palamuru-Rangareddy and Nakkalagandi lift irrigation schemes from the foreshores of Srisailam reservoir. The neighbouring State’s principal contention was that the earlier entitlement of undivided Andhra Pradesh to utilise surplus Krishna waters as the lowest riparian State could not automatically be extended to Telangana after the reorganisation of the State.

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka said that the matter was pending with the KWDT-II. The Telangana Government was expecting the Jal Shakti Ministry to come into the picture and try to resolve the issue as per the provisions of the AP Reorganisation Act.

SZC Chairman and Union Home Minister Amit Shah enquired whether the governments of the two States were willing to amicably settle the issue mutually outside the tribunal.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, however, recalled that all the projects were interlinked with each other and could not be considered in isolation. He favoured discussions between the States before approaching the Union Government, claiming that “there might not be an end to the process if they (irrigation issues) are taken up one by one”.

The issue was therefore retained in the agenda for the next meeting of the council likely to be held in Hyderabad.