Mahbubnagar: Tension prevailed in Mahbubnagar district on Thursday as the local leaders demanded 40 per cent share in the water released by the Karnataka Government on Wednesday from Thungabhadra Dam. As the officials decided to utilise the released water for the drinking purpose of Kurnool district, people of Palamur expressed concern that their drinking water needs would not be solved.
The officials of Kurnool district, about a couple of months ago, sent a requisition (indent) to the irrigation officials of Thungabhadra Dam (TD) to release water to meet the drinking water requirements of Kurnool and other districts in Rayalaseema. Accordingly, the irrigation officials of TD in Karnataka released 2,500 cusecs of water into Thungabhadra.
Water has to flow downstream to pass through Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme (RDS) Headworks at Rayachuru, 150 kms from Thungabhadra Dam, and reach Sunkesula Project at Rajoli village under Vaddepalli mandal in Mahbubnagar district. Water has already reached RDS headworks at Rayachur and was released to Sunkesula.
From Sunkesula Barrage, water has to be released to Rayalaseema region and Mahbubnagar.
The released water has to be shared between Kurnool (Rayalaseema) and Mahbubnagar (Telangana) in the 60:40 ratio as per the earlier agreement . However, considering the acute shortage in Kurnool and as the indent was made by it, irrigation officials at Rayachur thought of diverting water to K-C (Kurnool-Cuddapah) Canal.
People from several villages in Mahbubnagar and their leaders opposed the move and appealed to RDS Project Committee chairman Sitaram Reddy, District Collector Purushotham Reddy and Jurala Project Superintending Engineer (SE) Prakash to release water for them. As they decided to go towards RDS Headworks at Rayachur along with the people’s representatives, they were taken into preventive custody and shifted to Tharur police station.
Local people demand a discussion in the ongoing Assembly session in this regard. [The HANS India]