Centre takes control over all projects on Krishna and Godavari rivers in a midnight coup

Hyderabad: The BJP government at the Centre, in an unprecedented and shocking midnight development, took control of all the major and medium irrigation projects in Telangana State.

The Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) issued a gazette notification late on Thursday night that gave complete control of scores of projects in Telangana to the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) and the Godavari River Management Board (GRMB). The notification usurping all the rights of the State will come into effect from October 14.

According to the notification, the two river water boards will have complete control over the operations and maintenance of the common reservoirs in both Krishna and Godavari basins. Subsequently, 36 projects in Krishna basin and 71 projects in Godavari basin will come under the control of KRMB and GRMB respectively from October 2.

The gazette notification states that both Telangana and AP will have to stop works at ‘unapproved projects’ immediately and obtain approvals within six months of this notification. This would adversely impact several irrigation projects in Telangana including Palamuru Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme, Dindi Lift Irrigation Scheme and Srirama project that were expected to provide the much needed irrigation and drinking water facilities to the once parched Telangana.

What comes as a shock is that all the sanctioned posts in the projects will come under the jurisdiction of the two boards, besides plants, machinery, equipment and stores too. The Boards will also get to control office premises, equipment, furniture, vehicles, records and documents of the projects.

And to top it all, the two States will also have to deposit Rs 200 crore with the Boards towards ‘maintenance costs.”

The Boards will also have control over matters pertaining to power generation, transmission and distribution. All the major and medium projects are notified leaving only the minor irrigation to the States.