Telangana highlights injustice meted out to its people before KWDT-II

Bats for water distribution based on equitable apportionment, rather than relying on outdated administrative arrangements made in the undivided State of AP

Hyderabad: The long-standing dispute over the equitable allocation of Krishna river water has come to the forefront once again as final arguments resumed on Monday (March 24) before the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II (KWDT-II) in New Delhi.

The State argued that water distribution must begin anew, based on universally accepted principles of equitable apportionment, rather than relying on the outdated and inequitable administrative arrangements made in the undivided State. Besides this, the per capita water availability of Telangana which stands at a mere 422 cubic metres must be taken into consideration.

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Representing Telangana, senior counsel C.S. Vaidyanathan presented the State’s concerns about the historical and ongoing water deprivation faced by the region.

He emphasized the need for a fresh allocation of Krishna waters, urging the Tribunal to disregard the internal arrangements made by the erstwhile undivided Andhra Pradesh government. These previous agreements have overwhelmingly favoured Andhra Pradesh (AP), leaving Telangana struggling to meet the water needs of its drought-prone regions.

Key points raised by him include the stark disparity in per capita water availability. Telangana’s annual figure stands at a mere 422 cubic meters per person -much lower than the national average and that of Andhra Pradesh. Adding to this, AP was being benefited from as many as 40 river basins and sub basins with substantial self-generated water yields. In contrast, Telangana is largely dependent on Krishna’s deficit basin, struggling to sustain its drought-hit regions and critical irrigation projects like the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS).

The state’s counsel highlighted Andhra Pradesh’s practice of diverting approximately 330 TMC of Krishna water to the Penna Basin, where sufficient water resources already exist. Hundreds of crores have reportedly been spent by AP on the Godavari diversion to the Penna Basin, including components like a 150 TMC storage facility at Bollapalli. Telangana contends that such diversions prioritize external projects, leaving critical in-basin projects in Telangana starved for water.

While Andhra Pradesh seeks water allocation primarily for out-of-basin projects, Telangana has kept its demands modest. The state is focused on securing water for single dry crops in its drought-hit regions, rather than for new wet crops or extravagant projects. Telangana has urged the Tribunal to adopt a holistic and fair approach, considering factors such as population in the Krishna Basin districts and the acute water scarcity faced by Telangana’s drought-prone areas.

The state remains hopeful that its detailed submissions, fortified with maps and data, will pave the way for a just and equitable distribution of water.The proceedings were presided over by Justice Brijesh Kumar, with members Justice Ram Mohan Reddy and Justice S. Talapatra. The proceedings will continue until March 26th, 2025, with advocates and engineers from both states presenting their cases.