Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

Official denies promising 80 tmcft water to delta

By Our Special Correspondent

Hyderabad Sept. 19. The issue of water from the Nagarjunasagar for the Krishna delta took yet another turn today with the Irrigation Secretary, C. V. S. K. Sarma, coming out with a strong denial of having promised anything like 7,900 cusecs or 80 tmcft to the delta when political leaders met him yesterday at Vijayawada.Dr Sarma met the press to clear the air regarding the "so called promise" but reiterated the Chief Minister's commitment to protect the standing crops at any cost. He refused to be drawn into a controversy on the quantum of waters, which might be ensured to the delta under this commitment. He appealed to political leaders not to drag his name into any sort of controversy.

Asked as to how the protection would be offered, the Secretary said they were finalising a detailed "action plan" indicating the actual requirements canalwise and cropwise in Krishna and Guntur districts, and the details would be known in two or three days. Irrigation engineers were appointed as special officers to assess the requirements of each canal/branch for the action plan and presently, they were on the job. The supply made to the delta totalled 25 tmcft so far, of which 6 tmcft is out of intermediary inflows, he said.

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