Karnataka, AP and Telangana reach consensus on water-sharing issues
The Chief Ministers of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana agreed to work towards a permanent solution to interstate water-sharing issues during the inauguration of Tungabhadra Dam's new spillway gates. The states also backed desilting efforts and greater cooperation to safeguard farmers' interests
Koppal (Karnataka): The Chief Ministers of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on Thursday discussed resolving the water sharing issue between their states amicably, and decided to find a permanent solution to the water crisis with the involvement of Union Minister for Jal Shakti C R Patil.
Consensus was reached among the three Chief Ministers–D K Shivakumar, N Chandrababu Naidu and A Revanth Reddy respectively, as they met with Patil during the inauguration of the newly installed 33 spillway gates of Tungabhadra Dam here.
“There was a time when Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu were constantly in conflict over water-sharing issues. Discussions were not progressing, and no one was coming together on a common platform. But today is a good day. The chief ministers of all three states are here on one platform. They have committed that they will not quarrel,” Patil said addressing a public meeting here after the inauguration.
The CMs have agreed that whatever is decided by the Central government, and whatever arrangements already exist, should ensure that no state suffers injustice and that everyone receives their fair share of water, Patil added.
He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is connecting the nation through roads, and similarly, through water projects, he seeks to connect people.
Today, all three leaders have taken important steps together in that direction, he said. Highlighting the siltation issue, Patil said Prime Minister Modi has reports showing that among the country’s 6,500 dams, around 15 per cent of their storage capacity has been lost due to silt accumulation.
Tungabhadra Dam has lost even more than 15 percent of its capacity for the same reason. “Our ministry has developed a plan to address this issue. We have informed the three chief ministers that we will prepare and present a desilting plan. The states will execute the work, while we will provide technical assistance and support. As a result, the water-storage capacity of the Tungabhadra Dam could increase by 25-30 per cent.”
Thanking the three CMs for their cooperation, he said, “just as they cooperated in replacing the 33 gates without objections and with financial support, I am confident that the desilting project will also be completed quickly through their collective efforts.”
Shivakumar said that the three states together reached a historic consensus decision to protect the interests of farmers in the Tungabhadra river basin.
“We discussed how to safeguard and protect farming families, including the appeal submitted by farmer leaders regarding saving the 33 TMC of water in this dam. After discussing all options, including the Navali reservoir and the matter of de-silting, we have all reached a consensus opinion,” he said “The discussion we held today over the course of an hour will go down in history in the country’s irrigation and federal systems,” he said, adding “under the spirit of Our Water, Our Right, we have taken a historic decision to protect the farmers of three states.”
“Today, circumstances require us to implement and strengthen this project for the benefit of Rayalaseema, Ballari, and surrounding regions. We must work together to address irrigation challenges involving the Krishna, Cauvery, and Godavari river systems. We must find ways to unite around these rivers, protect farmers’ livelihoods, and collectively solve the problems faced by our three states,” he added.
Pitching for interlinking of rivers Chandrabau Naidu said that rivers from Ganga to the Cauveri must be linked. “Once that happens, no one will be able to stop India’s progress. India will become unstoppable. I firmly believe this will happen,” Naidu added.
Highlighting that under PM Modi and Patil’s leadership remarkable things have been achieved in this regard, he said, “this is where I’m requesting the Government of India– Godavari, Cauvery — you link the project under the National project. And also, protect all our rights. Karnataka’s right, Andhra Pradesh’s right, and Telangana’s.” “To do it, they have to come up with an action. We can take water to Tamil Nadu also.”
“If rivers are linked, surplus water from one basin can be transferred to deficit regions. This will help us manage droughts more effectively. Water disputes often lead to conflicts–between countries, between states, between districts, and even among farmers. The long-term solution for India is river interlinking,” Naidu said.
Meanwhile, Telangana CM Revanth Reddy appealed to the union minister to find a permanent solution to the interstate water sharing issue of Tungabhadra river expeditiously.
Pointing out that farmers could use only five-six tmc ft of the allocated 17.9 tmc ft of water from the Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme (RDS) in Gadwal, Alampur, and Palamuru regions of Telangana, he said, another 10 tmc ft of allocated water was not being used due to various reasons.
Telangana has already brought the issues of silt accumulation in the Tungabhadra river and water allocation disputes to the union minister’s attention. “We resolved to find a permanent solution to the water crisis in the meeting.”
The Tungabhadra Dam command area spans across regions of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. It supports vital agricultural and livelihood needs, relying on the Tungabhadra River’s water.
One of the crest gates (19th gate) of the reservoir in Koppal district was washed away after its chain link snapped in August 2024, following which the downstream areas were put on alert as a huge quantity of water was being released. The incident occurred amid heavy inflows during the season.
Following this, a team of experts headed by hydro-mechanical engineer N Kannaiah Naidu successfully installed the temporary stop-log gate in place of gate number 19 in about a week’s time.
Subsequently, based on the recommendations of experts, all 33 gates were replaced, according to official sources. Karnataka Water Resources Minister Ramalinga Reddy had recently said the installation of state-of-the-art new crest gates, designed to last for the next 55 to 60 years, has been completed successfully at a cost of approximately Rs 51 crore. PTI
Consensus was reached among the three Chief Ministers–D K Shivakumar, N Chandrababu Naidu and A Revanth Reddy respectively, as they met with Patil during the inauguration of the newly installed 33 spillway gates of Tungabhadra Dam here.
“There was a time when Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu were constantly in conflict over water-sharing issues. Discussions were not progressing, and no one was coming together on a common platform. But today is a good day. The chief ministers of all three states are here on one platform. They have committed that they will not quarrel,” Patil said addressing a public meeting here after the inauguration.
The CMs have agreed that whatever is decided by the Central government, and whatever arrangements already exist, should ensure that no state suffers injustice and that everyone receives their fair share of water, Patil added.
He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is connecting the nation through roads, and similarly, through water projects, he seeks to connect people.
Today, all three leaders have taken important steps together in that direction, he said. Highlighting the siltation issue, Patil said Prime Minister Modi has reports showing that among the country’s 6,500 dams, around 15 per cent of their storage capacity has been lost due to silt accumulation.
Tungabhadra Dam has lost even more than 15 percent of its capacity for the same reason. “Our ministry has developed a plan to address this issue. We have informed the three chief ministers that we will prepare and present a desilting plan. The states will execute the work, while we will provide technical assistance and support. As a result, the water-storage capacity of the Tungabhadra Dam could increase by 25-30 per cent.”
Thanking the three CMs for their cooperation, he said, “just as they cooperated in replacing the 33 gates without objections and with financial support, I am confident that the desilting project will also be completed quickly through their collective efforts.”
Shivakumar said that the three states together reached a historic consensus decision to protect the interests of farmers in the Tungabhadra river basin.
“We discussed how to safeguard and protect farming families, including the appeal submitted by farmer leaders regarding saving the 33 TMC of water in this dam. After discussing all options, including the Navali reservoir and the matter of de-silting, we have all reached a consensus opinion,” he said “The discussion we held today over the course of an hour will go down in history in the country’s irrigation and federal systems,” he said, adding “under the spirit of Our Water, Our Right, we have taken a historic decision to protect the farmers of three states.”
“Today, circumstances require us to implement and strengthen this project for the benefit of Rayalaseema, Ballari, and surrounding regions. We must work together to address irrigation challenges involving the Krishna, Cauvery, and Godavari river systems. We must find ways to unite around these rivers, protect farmers’ livelihoods, and collectively solve the problems faced by our three states,” he added.
Pitching for interlinking of rivers Chandrabau Naidu said that rivers from Ganga to the Cauveri must be linked. “Once that happens, no one will be able to stop India’s progress. India will become unstoppable. I firmly believe this will happen,” Naidu added.
Highlighting that under PM Modi and Patil’s leadership remarkable things have been achieved in this regard, he said, “this is where I’m requesting the Government of India– Godavari, Cauvery — you link the project under the National project. And also, protect all our rights. Karnataka’s right, Andhra Pradesh’s right, and Telangana’s.” “To do it, they have to come up with an action. We can take water to Tamil Nadu also.”
“If rivers are linked, surplus water from one basin can be transferred to deficit regions. This will help us manage droughts more effectively. Water disputes often lead to conflicts–between countries, between states, between districts, and even among farmers. The long-term solution for India is river interlinking,” Naidu said.
Meanwhile, Telangana CM Revanth Reddy appealed to the union minister to find a permanent solution to the interstate water sharing issue of Tungabhadra river expeditiously.
Pointing out that farmers could use only five-six tmc ft of the allocated 17.9 tmc ft of water from the Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme (RDS) in Gadwal, Alampur, and Palamuru regions of Telangana, he said, another 10 tmc ft of allocated water was not being used due to various reasons.
Telangana has already brought the issues of silt accumulation in the Tungabhadra river and water allocation disputes to the union minister’s attention. “We resolved to find a permanent solution to the water crisis in the meeting.”
The Tungabhadra Dam command area spans across regions of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. It supports vital agricultural and livelihood needs, relying on the Tungabhadra River’s water.
One of the crest gates (19th gate) of the reservoir in Koppal district was washed away after its chain link snapped in August 2024, following which the downstream areas were put on alert as a huge quantity of water was being released. The incident occurred amid heavy inflows during the season.
Following this, a team of experts headed by hydro-mechanical engineer N Kannaiah Naidu successfully installed the temporary stop-log gate in place of gate number 19 in about a week’s time.
Subsequently, based on the recommendations of experts, all 33 gates were replaced, according to official sources. Karnataka Water Resources Minister Ramalinga Reddy had recently said the installation of state-of-the-art new crest gates, designed to last for the next 55 to 60 years, has been completed successfully at a cost of approximately Rs 51 crore.
