Tamil Nadu CM Vijay seeks more Krishna water for Chennai, Andhra Pradesh CM Naidu makes no commitment

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Tuesday sought the release of more water from Andhra Pradesh to Chennai for drinking purposes, while the A.P. government gave no assurance in this regard, citing that it would consider the request depending on the water availability in the Krishna River and requirements of the State.

Mr. Vijay met Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu at the latter’s camp office in Vijayawada on Tuesday and discussed inter-State water issues, including the proposed Godavari-Cauvery river linkage and the supply of drinking water to Chennai.

Mr. Naidu said the Andhra Pradesh government was sympathetic to Chennai’s drinking water needs, despite a decline in Krishna River water availability due to the El Niño effect this year and the resulting water scarcity.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay during a meeting at Undavalli near Vijayawada on Tuesday.
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He informed Mr. Vijay that Andhra Pradesh had already released 4.08 TMC of water to Chennai. 

“The Andhra Pradesh government will consider releasing additional water for Chennai, depending on the availability and requirements of the State,” Mr. Naidu told his Tamil Nadu counterpart. 

Mr.  Vijay, who arrived in the State to participate in the Vijayawada Utsav, was accorded a warm welcome by Mr. Naidu and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh. Both the Chief Ministers held discussions with officials on several issues of mutual interest.

During the meeting, Mr.  Naidu explained the importance of linking the Godavari and Cauvery rivers, describing the interlinking of rivers as a permanent solution to drought.

Mr. Vijay, meanwhile, requested Andhra Pradesh to release additional drinking water for Chennai through the Telugu Ganga project to meet the requirements of the city.

Under the inter-State agreement signed in 1983, 15 TMC of the Krishna water is to be delivered annually at the Tamil Nadu border to cater to Chennai’s drinking water needs.

However, inadequate flood flows into the Krishna River at Srisailam and low storage in key reservoirs have complicated the prospects of meeting the demand in full.

The Andhra Pradesh government is understood to be examining the possibility of releasing a proportionate quantity from the available reserves at the Somasila and Kandaleru projects. A partial release of up to 5 TMC is likely to be a possible compromise, though a final government decision may be disclosed later. 

“The Andhra Pradesh government cannot release the full quantity of water, given the water availability in the reservoirs. However, a proportionate release from the available storage at the Kandaleru and Somasila projects is likely to be considered,” sources said.

The Tuesday’s meeting brought back memories of January 12, 2017, when then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam met Mr. Naidu and sought the release of the Krishna water for Chennai, which was facing an acute drinking water shortage.

Mr. Panneerselvam had written to Naidu on January 7, urging the immediate release of the agreed quantity from Kandaleru reservoir. During their meeting, he had explained the severity of the crisis and sought additional supplies.

Mr. Naidu had agreed in principle to a partial release, with the final quantity linked to water availability and Andhra Pradesh’s own requirements. Reports at the time said the two sides discussed a release of around 2.5 TMC.

Mr. Vijay’s visit marked his maiden trip to Andhra Pradesh after assuming office.