PNS | Vijayawada
The Andhra Pradesh Water Users’ Association Federation has urged the Minister of Jalshakti, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation to take steps for setting up of the headquarters of the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) in Vijayawada instead of Visakhapatnam.
It is learnt that the State government is taking steps to arrange the KRMB office at Visakhapatnam and also requested for shifting the office from Hyderabad to Vizag, the federation representatives said. In this connection, the federation leaders sent an email to the Union Minister as well as the Jalshakti Secretary on Thursday.
Addressing the press reporters at the Press Club, the federation president Alla Venkata Gopala Krishna Rao said that as per section 85(2) of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act – 2014, the KRMB headquarters should be located in the successor state. Initially, the government has taken its stand to shift the KRMB headquarters to Vijayawada and the Chief Secretary of the state has issued orders in this regard, he said.
Further, he said that some efforts were also made by the KRMB authorities for the finalisation of premises at Vijayawada. However, the same was delayed. Subsequently, the Special Chief Secretary of the State again informed the KRMB that the headquarters of the board would be stationed at Visakhapatnam, he lamented. Also, the Department of Water Resources informed the board, he added.
Meanwhile, the KRMB Technical Member and Engineer-in-Chief of Telangana has objected to shifting the board headquarters to Visakhapatnam, while the Vizag is not in Krishna Basin and is located 350 Km from Vijayawada, and 618 KM from Hyderabad, he reminded. Also, the Telangana state requested the board to relook and ensure the board should be located in the Krishna Basin area, he added.
He further said that since the inception of KRMB, several representations were submitted by farmers’ welfare organisations in KRMB on this issue stating that Vijayawada is on the banks of the Krishna River and geographically centrally located in Andhra Pradesh. It is also well connected by Road, Rail, and Air for monitoring the various projects located in both party States by the officials of the board, he said.
Also, it is more convenient for ayacutdars and the final water beneficiaries to apprise their day-to-day issues to KRMB. “We are constantly pursuing our genuine plea with the authorities of KRMB for a positive response. The same is awaited so far. The recent decision of the state shall be reexamined keeping in view the pros and cons of functional difficulties in monitoring/operation of the projects and its water regulations from a distant place (Vizag) in the long run,” Alla said.
Federation members G Srinivasa Rao, V Gopala Krishna Murthy, D Bhaskara Rao, Janga Chenchu Reddy, U Chakrapani, A Prabhu Das and others participated.
