KRMB urges Telangana, AP to resolve water sharing issues amicably

Remaining water in the common reservoirs of Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar should be used efficiently, advises the Board’s Chairman

Hyderabad: After postponing its emergency meeting three times in less than a week, the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) has finally succeeded in making officials of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to take part in talks to address the critical issue of sharing the remaining water in the common reservoirs of Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar.

The Board, expected to take a decisive role in determining the distribution of the approximately 60 TMC of water left in these reservoirs, chose instead to act in an advisory capacity. KRMB Chairman Atul Jain emphasised the importance of prioritising drinking water needs and urged both the States to resolve their differences amicably. Given the crucial stage of crop cultivation, the KRMB advised that the remaining water should be used efficiently and without wastage.

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The Board has directed both the States to hold meetings every 15 days to discuss and manage their water requirements.

Currently, Andhra Pradesh is drawing 7,000 cusecs from Nagarjuna Sagar, while Telangana is extracting 9,000 cusecs. Additionally, Andhra Pradesh is taking 2,200 cusecs from Srisailam, while Telangana is drawing 2,400 cusecs through Kalwakurthy Lift Irrigation Scheme.

The KRMB suggested that the water available in both the projects should be conserved and used judiciously until the end of summer. Telangana has requested 63 TMC of water, while Andhra Pradesh seeks 55 TMC. However, the availability stands at only 60 TMCs above the minimum draw down levels (MDDL) of both the reservoirs.