Hyderabad: It is possible that Krishna River Management Board and Godavari River Management Board, which have liquidity problems, will face bleak prospects in the new year.
As water exchange between the two Telugu states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh is becoming complex year by year, it is expected that the river junction will play a decisive role in the resolution of the conflict. Even though there are some funds, the functions that the junta undertakes are likely to be plagued by the series of monetary concerns that await them.
The Krishna River Management Board, which is found in precarious balance, is not sure about its ability to pay the salaries of its personnel, while the Godavari River Management Board (GRMB) supports its activities with reserve funds. Both are on the verge of becoming penniless. It is difficult to expect the money to arrive in a day or two.
As a result, the KRMB has been forced to call a special meeting to have an urgent review of its finances as the only topic on its agenda. KRMB has scheduled a meeting for January 12. The GRMB will hold a similar meeting in the first week of February to discuss its finances, among other issues.
The question of funding crunch affecting its operations is likely to take center stage in the deliberations of the meeting of India’s five river management boards, including the KRMB and GRMB, to be held in Delhi on January 9. With Water Department Secretary Debasree Mukherjee. Resources, Ministry of Jal Shakti in the Presidency.
Commenting on the improvement in the financial position of the river junta established on the basis of Section 85(1) of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act of 2014, a senior official said that both AP and TS were not releasing funds as per the agreement. KRMB employs 56 employees. They are not sure of getting their monthly salary if at least one state comes to their aid.
Another 45 GRMB employees and officials have been charged with funding the junta’s reserves and may face a term of less than a month or two. After not getting the desired response from the governments of both the states, he planned to approach the Jal Shakti Ministry on the issue.
Both KRMB and GRMB are autonomous bodies under the administrative control of the Central Government. According to section 86(2) of the Reorganization Act AP, it is stipulated that both successor states must provide necessary funds to the river unions to cover their expenses. The two states contributed Rs 45.63 million to the KRMB during the last 10 years, while Rs 45.45 million was spent on its operations and salaries during the same period.
Both states were required to provide KRMB Rs 11.75 million per year to cover their expenses.
For the financial year 2023-24, it is expected that the Telangana government will contribute Rs 11.75 million and AP is expected to pay Rs 13.61 million (including quota) to the junta. AP published only Rs 3,35 million in May 2023. He sent several letters to both the governments. KRMB is left with only Rs 22 lakh, which will not be enough to pay salaries to employees even in January.
As far as the Godavari Board is concerned, it has given minimum reserve funds to run its show and it is possible that it will not be able to sustain for long, an official said. While Andhra Pradesh owes Rs 9.43 million, Telangana owes Rs 4.77 million.
