more-in The Krishna riparian States have agreed to the formation of a committee that would look into the river water supply to meet the drinking water needs of Chennai, said R. Buhril, Secretary of Inter-State Council’s Secretariat on Tuesday. The committee will be headed by the chairperson of Krishna River Water Management Board with Engineers-in chief of water resources and irrigation departments of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu as its members, he said. According to him, despite the 1983 agreement over Chennai receiving 12 tmcft of water for its drinking water needs, the city has not been receiving water. “The immediate state to release water is Andhra Pradesh, which is stating that it is not receiving enough water from upper streams. The arrangement provided by the council has been agreed upon by the States and they are quite happy to be part of the committee,” he said. Other issues The other decisions of the Council include formation of a committee to control smuggling of red sanders from Seshachalam hills in Andhra Pradesh. States were expected to solve the problem, but they were not able to come together and hence a committee has been formed, he added. Regarding the development of airport at Puducherry, he said the council has requested the two States to sit together and see how it can be resolved. “Airports authority is willing to develop the airport if the land is provided for development. Certain quantum of land is in Tamil Nadu. Puducherry does not have funds.” Issues related to dispute between AP and Tamil Nadu over fishing in Pulicat lake were also discussed.

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