Krishna waters: AP taps early inflows as Telangana waits on protocols

Andhra Pradesh activates the Pothireddypadu Head Regulator; with cumulative inflows crossing 205 TMC at Srisailam, 95 TMC at Jurala and 51 TMC at NSP, the Krishna basin is witnessing a bountiful monsoon

Hyderabad: As part of its aggressive water utilisation strategy, Andhra Pradesh has opened the regulators on its side of the common Krishna basin irrigation projects, making full use of the early monsoon inflows. In stark contrast, Telangana has adopted a more restrained approach, waiting for the finalised irrigation schedule and, some say, an auspicious ‘muhurat’ to begin drawls.

With cumulative inflows crossing 205 TMC at Srisailam, 95 TMC at Jurala and 51 TMC at Nagarjuna Sagar, the Krishna basin is witnessing a bountiful monsoon. Andhra Pradesh is moving swiftly to capitalise on the surge. The State has already activated the Pothireddypadu Head Regulator, drawing water from the Srisailam project. Upgraded from its earlier capacity of 44,000 cusecs to 80,000 cusecs, the regulator now feeds the Telugu Ganga and KC Canal systems, with drawls ramped up from an initial 14,000 cusecs.

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Last water year (June 1, 2024–May 31, 2025), AP drew over 208 TMC through Pothireddypadu alone, while Telangana’s total Krishna basin utilisation stood at 285 TMC, far below AP’s 730 TMC. This year’s pattern appears to mirror the previous one, with Telangana receiving just 28% of the 1,015 TMC used by both States, despite being entitled to 34% (299 TMC) of the 811 TMC allocated to the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh.

Under the Nagarjuna Sagar Left Canal system in Telangana, farmers in Zone I and II have prepared seedbeds and are anxiously awaiting water. Authorities have released 4,000 cusecs to the canal to deliver 1.5 TMC to the Palair reservoir for drinking water needs. Full-scale irrigation releases are expected post the SCIWAM meeting on July 11.

At Jurala, despite being the first to receive good inflows this year, no water has yet reached Bhima Lift-II, the Parallel Canal or Nettempadu Lift. Only modest drawls have occurred: 1,300 cusecs for Bhima Lift-I, 315 cusecs from Koilsagar Lift, and 400 and 770 cusecs to the right and left main canals, respectively. Telangana’s total utilisation at Jurala last year was just 41 TMC, with 18 TMC allocated to Nettempadu and Bhima schemes, raising concerns of underutilisation and mismanagement.

Telangana irrigation officials remain cautious, ensuring minimal withdrawals from Srisailam. On July 8, the State initiated a modest 700 cusecs drawl through the Kalwakurthy Lift Irrigation Scheme.

“Our fields are ready, but water is still a distant promise,” lamented A Chinna Reddy, a farmer under the Kalwakurthy Lift.