Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Clash Over Krishna River Water Sharing
The ongoing conflict between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh over the sharing of Krishna River water took center stage during the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) meeting on Tuesday in Hyderabad.
The Telangana government has been pushing for a larger share of Krishna River water. It has already presented strong arguments before the Bachawat Tribunal, advocating for major allocations and project-wise water distribution. Telangana officials expressed dissatisfaction with the current 66:34 water-sharing ratio between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, which they believe is unfair.
During the meeting, Telangana officials demanded a 71% share of the water, citing that 71% of the Krishna River catchment area falls within their state. As a temporary measure, they proposed an equal 50:50 sharing arrangement until a final decision is made. However, Andhra Pradesh opposed this demand, and the Krishna Board did not agree to Telangana’s proposal.
The KRMB assured both states that their water needs would be met based on availability but refrained from making any immediate changes to the water-sharing arrangements. This left Telangana officials dissatisfied, who also raised other concerns during the meeting.
One of the key demands from Telangana’s Principal Secretary for Irrigation, Rahul Bojja, and ENC General Anil Kumar was the withdrawal of CRPF forces stationed at the Nagarjuna Sagar project site. This demand stems from an incident on October 28, 2023, when clashes occurred between officials and security forces from both states. The clashes led to Andhra Pradesh taking control of 13 crest gates and the NSP Right Main Canal Head Regulator.
Telangana officials also called for the rehabilitation of the Srisailam project, addressing structural issues. They emphasized that the project is still under Andhra Pradesh’s operational control, which they believe needs to be reviewed.
Additionally, Telangana demanded the installation of a telemetry system at 11 new locations to monitor water withdrawals from Krishna basin projects. They argued this would ensure transparency and accountability in water usage by both states.
The meeting, chaired by KRMB chairman Atul Jain, ended without a resolution to these contentious issues. The water-sharing dispute between the two Telugu states remains unresolved, leaving tensions high.
