Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy Calls for 70% Allocation of Krishna River Water to the State

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has urged officials to strive for Telangana to receive 70% of the Krishna river's water. This request is based on Telangana covering 70% of the Krishna river basin area. He discussed this during a meeting with Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy and other officials, focusing on irrigation matters, according to an official release.

The Chief Minister emphasised that water allocation should align with international principles, which suggest distribution based on the river basin area covered. He instructed officials to argue that Telangana should receive 70% of the 1005 TMC of available Krishna river water. This approach aims to protect the state's interests in water sharing discussions.

Water Tribunal and State Interests

The Brajesh Kumar Tribunal, as per the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, is responsible for deciding water sharing between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. It also handles project-wise water allocations. So far, the tribunal has gathered opinions and evidence from both state governments but has not made any decisions yet.

Officials informed the Chief Minister that both states would soon present their arguments before the tribunal. Following this, the tribunal is expected to make its decisions regarding water distribution. The Chief Minister directed irrigation officials to ensure that Telangana's interests are effectively represented during these proceedings.

Concerns Over River Management Boards

Revanth Reddy questioned why decisions by the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) and Godavari River Management Board (GRMB) should be considered when the Brajesh Kumar Tribunal has not finalised water allocations between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. He suggested that officials argue in the Supreme Court against interference by these boards until the tribunal completes its task.

The KRMB and GRMB were established under the AP Reorganisation Act of 2014. The Chief Minister believes their involvement should be limited until a clear decision on water distribution is reached by the tribunal.

The Chief Minister's focus remains on ensuring Telangana secures a fair share of Krishna river water, aligning with its geographical coverage of the river basin. The ongoing discussions and tribunal proceedings are crucial for achieving this goal.