All eyes on KRMB, GRMB meetings next week amid ongoing water crisis

The KRMB and GRMB will meet on October 26 and 30 to discuss water sharing, reservoir management and disputes between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Key issues include competing Krishna allocations, telemetry equipment, board funding and the Polavaram project’s backwater impact

Hyderabad: With El Niño conditions, deficient rainfall and dwindling reservoir inflows tightening water availability, meetings of the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) and the Godavari River Management Board (GRMB) are scheduled for October 26 and 30, respectively.

Initially scheduled for August, the meetings were postponed. They are expected to discuss water sharing, reservoir management and pending disputes between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

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The meetings assume significance as both states face the challenge of managing available water for irrigation, drinking water and power generation. A recent meeting of a three-member committee failed to reach a consensus on Krishna water sharing, with the two states maintaining divergent positions.

At its October 26 meeting, the KRMB is expected to take up the distribution of Krishna river water, the operation of common projects, project approvals and complaints filed by the two states. Andhra Pradesh is insisting on a 66:34 sharing ratio, while Telangana is seeking a 70:30 arrangement, arguing that allocations should reflect its larger share of the Krishna basin.

The committee has, in principle, stressed the need to prioritise drinking water requirements and regulate the use of available storage. The KRMB meeting is expected to review reservoir levels, future requirements and water releases amid deficient rainfall and limited inflows.

Objections over water utilisation, power generation and compliance with project norms are also likely to figure in the discussions. The states have filed complaints against each other over projects on both rivers, with issues relating to project approvals, the boards’ jurisdiction and the implementation of guidelines remaining unresolved.

The installation of telemetry equipment to monitor water flows and usage is another key issue. Some existing devices are reportedly malfunctioning, prompting calls for their replacement with modern equipment and for installations at additional locations.

The GRMB meeting on October 30 is expected to discuss the impact of backwater from the Polavaram project. Telangana has previously raised concerns about possible submergence and effects on upstream areas. The project authority had earlier indicated that the issue would be studied and necessary measures taken.

Funding for the functioning of both river boards, including pending contributions from the two states, is also likely to come up for discussion.

Senior irrigation officials and engineers from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are expected to attend the meetings.