Karnataka Agrees to Release Water to Jurala Project, Say Telangana Ministers
Telangana ministers say Karnataka has agreed to release water to the Jurala Project intermittently over 10 days, easing irrigation worries in the erstwhile Mahabubnagar district.
Karnataka has agreed to release water to the Jurala Project, responding positively to a request from Telangana, Ministers Jupally Krishna Rao and Vakiti Srihari said on Wednesday.
The two ministers met Karnataka Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar on Tuesday and Wednesday and briefed him on the irrigation situation in Telangana. They said that although Karnataka too is facing water constraints, its Chief Minister took a sympathetic view of the difficulties faced by farmers in Telangana and agreed to extend support.
The ministers told Mr. Shivakumar about drought-like conditions caused by El Niño, the falling water levels at the Jurala Project, and the hardship faced by farmers in the ayacut areas of the erstwhile Mahabubnagar district because of the shortage of irrigation water.
According to the ministers, Mr. Shivakumar assured them that Karnataka would release water to the Jurala Project intermittently over the next 10 days. He immediately spoke to Karnataka Water Resources Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy and Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh, and directed officials to take steps to facilitate the release of water to Jurala. Mr. Rao and Mr. Srihari thanked the Karnataka government for its cooperation.
The ministers said that, on the instructions of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, Telangana Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy had written to the Karnataka Chief Minister on September 20 seeking the release of water to Jurala. Continuous consultations with the Karnataka government followed, leading to the positive outcome, they added.
Appealing to farmers and residents in the ayacut areas served by the Jurala, Bhima, Nettempadu and Koilsagar projects not to panic, the ministers said the State government would ensure planned and efficient use of available water resources, keeping both irrigation and drinking water requirements in mind.
They also announced that a meeting of ministers, MLAs and irrigation officials from the erstwhile Mahabubnagar district would be held on Thursday. The meeting will discuss strategies for optimal utilisation of available water in the Jurala, Bhima, Nettempadu and Koilsagar projects to meet irrigation and drinking water needs.