Andhra Pradesh asks KRMB for exclusion of flood time water drawls; Telangana opposes

The authorities in Telangana are strongly opposing the situation. During the September 2024 floods, Andhra Pradesh received a significant portion of inflows into the Srisailam project, with the Pothireddypadu head regulator accounting for over 110 TMC. Andhra Pradesh's ample storage facilities enable it to begin irrigation schedules early, using water beyond the Krishna basin.

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh has requested the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) not to consider the water drawn during flood times as part of its allocated water share. The State argued that the water diverted during floods was surplus and would otherwise flow into the sea, and thus should not be counted against the agreed water share. The river board is likely to give a serious thinking about the issue in its upcoming meeting

The Telangana authorities are however strongly opposing it. AP availed a major share of inflows into the Srisailam project, with the Pothireddypadu head regulator accounting for over 110 TMC during September 2024 floods. AP’s adequate storage facilities allow it to commence irrigation schedules early, utilizing water beyond the Krishna basin.

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Telangana’s challenges

Telangana has limited storage facilities in the Krishna basin. Added to this, delayed inflows reaching Nagarjuna Sagar by late August, were leaving it at the receiving end. Telangana‘s utilization of Krishna water in the first six months of the water year was around 160 TMC.

Designed to utilize 90 TMC from Srisailam backwaters, the Paralmuru Ranga Reddy Lift Irrigation project has seen little progress under the Congress government. Despite completion of a major part of the project, no water has been drawn to meet district drinking water needs. AP benefits from large-scale drawls via the Pothireddypadu head regulator, giving it an upper hand. Telangana utilizes on an average round 6000 cusecs of water daily for power generation and the water used from the power generation is again shared for irrigation and drinking by both the states.

As of December 12, Srisailam project’s storage is 119 TMC (gross capacity: 215 TMC), and NSP dam holds 290 TMC (gross capacity: 312 TMC).

The request by Andhra Pradesh to exclude flood-time water drawls from its allocated share, has sparked a fresh debate. KRMB has been requested by Telangana to ensure that such issues would not figure in the agenda itself in its meetings hereafter.