Telangana Speeds Up Efforts to Secure Water Share from Krishna and Godavari Rivers
The Telangana State government has accelerated its efforts to claim its rightful share of water from the Krishna and Godavari rivers. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has directed officials to prepare a detailed report covering water-sharing agreements, government orders, judgments since 2014, and the losses Telangana has faced in water distribution. The report will also include details about projects and their DPRs (Detailed Project Reports) from the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh.
This comprehensive report will serve as crucial evidence to strengthen Telangana’s case before the Brajesh Kumar Tribunal and other platforms. The Chief Minister has also made it clear that the state will not consider decisions made by the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) and Godavari River Management Board (GRMB) until the Tribunal finalizes the water-sharing between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. He emphasized that officials must argue in the Supreme Court to limit the boards’ interference until the Tribunal completes its decisions.
To safeguard Telangana’s interests, CM Revanth Reddy has instructed the Irrigation Department to prepare strong arguments for the Tribunal. Officials and legal experts have been tasked with collecting all necessary evidence, documents, and government orders to present a well-rounded case.
On Saturday, the Chief Minister, along with Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, held a review meeting with concerned officials. The meeting focused on the availability of irrigation water in Telangana, unresolved inter-state disputes regarding Krishna and Godavari waters, and strategies to ensure fair water distribution. The discussion also covered pending permissions for key projects and steps needed to boost irrigation in the state.
According to the AP Reorganisation Act, the Brajesh Kumar Tribunal is responsible for determining water-sharing and project-wise water allocations between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. So far, the Tribunal has gathered opinions and evidence from both states. Officials informed the CM that arguments from the states will soon be presented, after which the Tribunal will announce its decision.
Telangana holds 70% of the Krishna basin, while Andhra Pradesh has only 30%. The CM has instructed officials to present these facts to claim 70% of the 1,005 tmc (thousand million cubic feet) of water available in the Krishna River. Additionally, he pointed out that Andhra Pradesh uses 80 tmc of Godavari water for the Krishna Delta via the Polavaram project, and in return, 45 tmc of water has been allocated to Telangana upstream of the Nagarjuna Sagar.
The Chief Minister has urged officials to implement plans to utilize Telangana’s rightful share of water through upstream projects. He also suggested paying Rs. 12 crore in advance, if necessary, to implement a telemetry system for monitoring water usage, which Andhra Pradesh will reimburse later. Moreover, he directed officials to secure permissions for the Sitarama Project and Sammakka Barrage to ensure irrigation for the entire ayacut.
By taking these steps, Telangana aims to effectively protect its water interests and ensure fair distribution for its people.
