Revanth Reddy seeks permanent solution to Tungabhadra water dispute

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy met his counterparts from Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh along with Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil in Hospet to discuss the long‑standing Tungabhadra water‑sharing issue. While officials from all three States participated, details of the deliberations were not made public.

Hyderabad: Questions are being raised over the outcome of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s meeting with his counterparts from Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh on River Tungabhadra water-sharing issues as details of the discussions have not been shared in the public domain.

The Chief Minister visited Hospet and attended a meeting with Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil, Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on the issue. Officials from all three States also participated in the meeting.

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However, addressing a public meeting later, Revanth Reddy appealed to the Union Minister to find a permanent solution to the inter-State River Tungabhadra water-sharing issue at the earliest.

“Today is a Red Letter Day as the Chief Ministers of three States attended a meeting chaired by Union Minister CR Patil on the Tungabhadra water-sharing issue,” the Chief Minister said.

He described the first meeting involving the Chief Ministers and the Union Minister as a step towards resolving the water-sharing issue amicably. The inauguration of 33 new gates at the Tungabhadra dam was a major initiative towards resolving a dispute that has continued for three generations, he said. He also called upon all political forces to rise above politics and work for the interests of farmers in the three States.

The Chief Minister pointed out that farmers were able to utilise only 5 to 6 TMC out of the 17.9 TMC allocated to the Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme (RDS) in Gadwal, Alampur and Palamuru regions. He admitted that nearly 10 TMC of the allocated water was not being utilised due to various reasons.

The Telangana government had already brought to the Union Minister’s notice issues relating to silt accumulation in River Tungabhadra and disputes over water allocation, he said. “We resolved to find a permanent solution to the water crisis in the meeting,” the Chief Minister stated.