Poondi reservoir likely to receive Krishna water next month

The officials are hopeful as the PWD had received a communication from its counterpart Andhra Pradesh irrigation department to settle the amount needed for maintenance works. The communication comes in the backdrop of TN PWD officials’ letter, a few days ago seeking release of Krishna water. 

PWD sources said that the AP government should provide 12 tmc of water per year to TN under Telugu Ganga Project. 

However, the AP irrigation officials had never ever released 12 tmc of water. Since Chennai is witnessing acute water scarcity, former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam met his AP counterpart Chandrababu Naidu in January 2017 seeking release of water, after which the AP government agreed to release 2.5 tmc of water. 

“In such a condition, we communicated to the AP officials a few days ago to release Krishna water. 

However, we received a reply stating that TN should pay the pending maintenance amount of Rs 530 crore, after which they will consider releasing water,” said a PWD engineer. He, however, added that since water level in the AP dams is low, there is no possibility of releasing Krishna water this month. When contacted, Chandrakaladharan, Executive Engineer, Krishna Water Supply (Division I), PWD, denied that AP government did not release water due to arrears. 

“Even Kandaleru reservoir has low level of water. If there is a good rainfall and water level is going beyond 8 tmc of water in Kandaleru dam, Krishna water will be released,” he said and hoped that Poondi reservoir would get water in the beginning of August.