The Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) holds its 21st meeting in Hyderabad on October 26. It comes as El Niño has cut rainfall and inflows into reservoirs, and both states are preparing to press their claims hard.
Andhra Pradesh's objections
AP water resources officials say Telangana drew large amounts of water from Srisailam for power generation and stored it in Nagarjunasagar. Srisailam now holds just 57.92 tmcft, or 26.84% of its 215 tmcft capacity. Officials warn that without fresh inflows, Rayalaseema could face drinking water shortages next May and June. At the meeting, AP will ask the board to:
- Stop the operation of pumps under Phase I of the Palamuru-Rangareddy lift scheme
- Halt construction of new lift irrigation projects on the Krishna
- Move the KRMB headquarters to Amaravati and take over key parts of common projects
Telangana's case
Telangana wants Krishna water shared 70:30, arguing that most of the basin lies in its territory. AP insists on the 66:34 ratio. Telangana says AP has drawn more than its share and has not installed telemetry devices to measure drawals, as the board directed.
A recent three-member committee meeting on water sharing ended without agreement. At the Godavari board meeting on October 30, Telangana will raise flooding risk to its areas from Polavaram backwaters.
