HYDERABAD: Asserting that Telangana would not compromise on its rightful share of Krishna river waters, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Saturday asked officials to ensure that the state’s claim of 904 tmcft must be secured “without surrendering a single drop”.
Chairing a review meeting at the Integrated Command Control Centre ahead of the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal–2 (KWDT-2) hearings in Delhi on September 23–25, the chief minister instructed legal experts and irrigation officials to prepare strong arguments and furnish all necessary data.
Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy will attend the KWDT-2 hearings in Delhi.
During the review meeting, the chief minister asked officials to ensure details of all Krishna projects in undivided Andhra Pradesh, completed, pending or abandoned, along with relevant government orders and documents are presented before the Tribunal.
The chief minister noted that the previous government had accepted a meagre 299 tmcft while conceding 512 tmcft to Andhra Pradesh, weakening Telangana’s case and leaving projects such as Palamuru–Rangareddy and Dindi incomplete. He said officials must highlight Andhra Pradesh’s diversions through Pothireddypadu, Rayalaseema Lift Scheme, Pattiseema, Pulichintala and Chintalapadu canals, which affect Telangana’s irrigation prospects and hydroelectric generation at Srisailam, Nagarjunasagar and Pulichintala.
Earlier, Uttam also reviewed the case with senior counsel CS Vaidyanathan and technical experts. He said Telangana’s claim of 71 per cent out of 811 tmcft of dependable water was based on fair principles, pointing to the state’s drought-prone areas and lack of irrigation infrastructure in the past. The minister said Telangana had filed updated data to justify its requirements and sought liberty to utilise its allocation, including leftover waters, through offline storages and new reservoirs.
Telangana govt to press for equitable redistribution of Krishna waters
Officials pointed out to the Irrigation minister that pending issues before the Tribunal include allocation of carryover storage, liberty to use flows above 2,578 tmcft, and operational protocols. Telangana will also argue that in-basin demands must take precedence over outside-basin diversions and that nearly 291 tmcft of savings from updated crop water assessments and alternative sources tapped by Andhra Pradesh should be redistributed equitably.
The government is preparing supporting orders for ongoing and proposed projects, including expansion of Kalwakurthy, Nettempadu and Palamuru-Rangareddy lift schemes, new reservoirs for Hyderabad’s drinking needs and the Jurala Flood Flow Canal to divert 100 tmcft during flood season.
“After Congress came to power, we have come up with concrete plans to tap every drop of Krishna water available to us. Farmers will not remain dependent on rainfall alone, and Hyderabad’s drinking and industrial needs will be safeguarded,” Uttam said, adding that the Tribunal had already acknowledged past injustices to Telangana.
The right fight
CM asks officials to present complete details of Krishna projects in undivided AP, including completed, pending and abandoned works, before KWDT-2
TG will highlight AP’s diversions and submit updated data before KWDT-2 to justify its higher allocation for irrigation and power projects