Hyderabad: Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy has instructed the State’s legal and technical teams to work hard to ensure that Telangana receives a fair and rightful portion of Krishna river water. He held a meeting on Sunday to review the progress of inter-State issues related to the Krishna water disputes with senior advocates and legal team members.
Reddy urged the teams to aggressively pursue all issues without compromise before the tribunal and Supreme Court. Legal expert Vaidyanathan provided an update on various issues before the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II (KWDT-II) and the apex court, suggesting a way forward. Discussions included the ad-hoc arrangement made in 2015 with Andhra Pradesh, which was deemed arbitrary and without basis, and the need to seek a revision of the 50:50 ratio before KWDT-II.
The minister reiterated the government’s stance on not handing over components of the Srisailam and Nagarjunsagar Project (NSP) to KRMB, as per a resolution passed in the Assembly on February 12, 2024. Reddy emphasized the government’s commitment to protecting Telangana’s water rights in the Krishna basin.
During talks about the KWDT-II award pending before the Supreme Court, Vaidyanathan proposed consultations with Maharashtra and Karnataka to resolve issues through dialogue. The minister agreed and directed steps in that direction. He stressed the importance of ensuring Telangana receives its fair share of Krishna river water to alleviate hardships faced by people in the region. Reddy advised the legal and technical teams to work diligently to secure an equitable water share for Telangana. He urged them to pursue all matters aggressively before the tribunal and Supreme Court.
