Fresh trouble brews over water sharing

ANANTAPUR: The Karnataka government’s proposed reservoir across Chitravathi river, which is about 15 km from the state border at Paragodu in Bagepalli taluk of Kolar district, is likely to open up another inter-state dispute over water.
Karnataka chief minister S M Krishna would lay the foundation stone for the construction of the new reservoir on April 16.But the proposed reservoir is in violation of the inter-state agreement for the allocation of Krishna water.
For the past three years the Karnataka government has been planning to construct the reservoir and in the last budget it also allocated funds for the same. It has also given technical sanction for the project estimated to cost about Rs 8 crore. The government had earlier acquired the surrounding land from farmers about two years ago.
Karnataka’s plan to divert water for drinking and irrigation purposes in Bagepalli taluk would have severe implications on Anantapur and Kadapa. According to sources, over 200 irrigation tanks which irrigate 50,000 acre would dry up even in rainy season as they are dependent on the river canal.
Similarly, the International Spiritual Centre at Puttaparthi depends on the same water resource and would have to face acute shortage as most of the borewells are near the river bed.
According to officials, the groundwater would drastically deplete in Hindupur, Gorantla and Dharmavaram constituencies.
Though the people’s representatives in the district have not been able to exert pressure on the neighbouring state to stop the construction, MPs K Sreenivasulu and B K Parthasarathi have complained to the central water commission (CWC) and urged it to stop the construction.
The Paragodu Parirakshana Porata Samithi convener Prathap Reddy has also asked the Karnataka government not to lay foundation for the proposed reservoir.
The Samithi threatened that it would intensify the agitation if Karnataka violates the agreement on sharing of water.