CCSAP Report - Ministry of Home Affairs

But such agreements, which do not involve all basin states, suffer from legal
infirmities. Unless expressly provided, the KWDT and GWDT awards supersede
such agreements. As regards the arguments before KWDT, it can be surmised
that, it is not certain, if Andhra had argued its case using all sections of the
Andhra Formation Act, the KWDT would have allocated more water to Andhra
Pradesh and hence to Telangana.
(iii) Another grievance of Telangana is that the construction of Srisailam
Left Bank Canal Project has been purposely delayed by the Andhra Pradesh
Government. This project involves a single tunnel of 40 kms length by boring
from only two faces, without adits. This project is difficult engineering wise
and would take considerable time.
(iv) Telangana groups also have a view that, their traditional irrigation,
based on numerous small tanks, has been purposely destroyed through neglect,
non-allocation of funds, etc., causing major harm. As a result, perforce, the
farmers have to depend on groundwater irrigation and this is impoverishing the
farmers. The reduction in the importance of minor surface irrigation and a
phenomenal increase in groundwater irrigation is a nationwide phenomenon.
There are various reasons for this phenomena, such as, increasing population
pressure, increased cropping, increasing land prices and wide spread availability
of energy in the form of electricity and fossil fuels in the rural areas and non-
maintenance of tanks. The earlier discussions in the Chapter indicate that there
is a very large growth in the gross and net irrigation in Telangana, although, the
minor surface irrigation has reduced. This is mainly due to the large increase in
groundwater irrigation. Such a large increase would not have taken place if it
was leading to the general impoverishing of all farmers. While, in general, this
grievance is based on misconception, it is recognised that tube wells do involve
costly investments and in pockets of low groundwater availability, operating costs
are also high. As an immediate measure, soft loans for investments and
subsidies for power, as already available, could be improved. Also in pockets,
groundwater recharge schemes could be taken up. Similarly, wherever the old
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