Sagar, Srisailam simmer, cops take position at dams

T & AP Water War Escalates, Set For Showdown

- Koride Mahesh

Hyderabad/Vijayawada: Simmering tension over construction of alleged illegal irrigation projects and hydel power generation is now snowballing into a major showdown between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh with both states deploying hundreds of police personnel at hydel power stations on Krishna river in their respective regions.

Tension was palpable at the power stations since Wednesday evening itself as Telangana deployed Special Protection Force personnel at Pulichintala, Srisailam, Jurala and Nagarjunasagar projects to prevent any untoward incidents and closed dam sites for vehicular and tourist movement. In a counter move, AP too deployed police force at Pulichintala dam on its territory.

Although AP police claimed it was confined to protection of key installations at the projects, the heavy deployment of security personnel from both states triggered tension in the region. Telangana police denied entry to some officials from AP, including revenue and irrigation officials from Guntur, at Macherla on Andhra border, who wanted to give a letter to Telangana Genco officials asking to stop hydel power generation from units at Pulichintala and Nagarjunasagar.

TENSIONS REACH BOILING POINT