Irrigation experts dismiss Revanth Reddy’s 904 TMC of Krishna water pitch as ignorant posturing

Ahead of the crucial KWDT-II hearing on September 23, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has asked the State irrigation team to demand 904 TMC of Krishna water, far above previous claims. Experts caution that while Telangana has a strong case for 575 TMC based on catchment and drought data, the inflated demand may weaken its position.

Hyderabad: With the all important phase of hearing by the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II (KWDT-II) set to commence on September 23, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has surprisingly asked the State irrigation team to demand a staggering 904 TMC of Krishna water.

But the KWDT-II’s terms, set in 2023, focus mainly on redistributing the 811 TMC fairly, prioritizing local needs over diversions outside the basin. Irrigation experts are of the impression that the 904 TMC demand might be a bold starting point for negotiations, but calling it Telangana’s “legal right” may amount to overstepping.

---

They are apprehensive that such a demand may appear a flip-flop claim and may weaken Telangana’s case if it alienates the tribunal. The focus should stay on the solid 575 TMC claim, backed by data on catchment, drought and violations by Andhra Pradesh.

The claim for 904 TMC speaks more about ignorance of the political leadership and its urge to convert water needs into political rhetoric. As hearings begin, Telangana’s farmers hope for a fair flow, not political overreach, say irrigation experts.

The Krishna River has a reliable yield of 2,130 TMC, though its average flow is 2,578 TMC. Overusing it risks ecological damage, like zero water downstream during droughts.

Before Telangana and AP split in 2014, undivided Andhra Pradesh was allocated 811 TMC. After the split, Telangana received, under an ad hoc arrangement, 299 TMC as against AP’s 512 TMC, and surplus water was shared in a 34:66 ratio (Telangana:AP).

Telangana, with 68.5% of the river’s catchment area, is entitled to stake a higher claim. The Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-I (KWDT-I), constituted in 1969 and concluding in 1976, allocated water from the Krishna River to the States sharing its basin, including undivided Andhra Pradesh.

Based on the tribunal’s findings, the “net assured” yield of the Krishna River was determined to be 2,060 TMC at a 75% dependability level, with an average flow of around 2,578 TMC.

KWDT-I allotment for undivided Andhra Pradesh, which included the present-day States of AP and Telangana before the 2014 bifurcation, was allocated 811 TMC of Krishna River water annually. This allocation was part of the total distributable water among the three riparian States: Maharashtra- 560 TMC, Karnataka- 700 TMC and Andhra Pradesh (undivided)- 811 TMC.

The Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II (KWDT-II), established in 2004, issued its final award in 2010, which was later challenged and remains under review due to post-bifurcation disputes between AP and Telangana.

For the undivided AP (pre-2014), KWDT-II allocated a total of 1,001 TMC of Krishna River water at 65% dependability. This was an increase from the 811 TMC allocated to undivided AP by KWDT-I in 1976 (at 75% dependability).

Taking the allocations of the KWDT- II, which was not notified yet, Telangana can stake claim up to 685 TMC of the river water, according to V. Prakash Rao, former chairman, Telangana Water Resources Development Corporation.

He emphasised that Telangana deserved an enhanced share based on its geography and 68.6 per cent catchment falling in its limits. The Congress government, which at one point of time was insisting on a share of about 555 TMC of the Krishna water, has now escalated the issue sidestepping the core dispute.

The Chief Minister’s demand for 904 TMC includes 575 TMC (71% of the original 811 TMC) as Telangana’s fair share, said officials. Besides this it includes 123 TMC of unallocated water and 80 TMC from the Godavari water that AP diverts to its Krishna Delta via Polavaram and 43 TMC from AP’s surplus drainage and revised crop needs. Critics point out that as per Revanth Reddy’s earlier stance in June, he suggested 500 TMC was enough for Telangana’s Krishna needs.

This 500 TMC was part of a 1,500 TMC deal he proposed with AP for both Krishna and Godavari rivers. This is in contrast with former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao’s push for 1,950 TMC across both rivers.