Hyderabad, August 29: Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has directed officials to present strong arguments before the Krishna Water Tribunal to protect Telangana’s water interests.
He asked the irrigation department to focus on project wise water allocations. He also stressed the irrigation and drinking water needs of drought hit, fluoride affected and backward regions.
Revanth Reddy held a review meeting on Friday at the Marri Chenna Reddy Human Resources Development Centre. Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, senior lawyers and department officials attended the meeting.
The review covered interstate water disputes, Krishna Tribunal proceedings and cases pending before the Supreme Court. Officials also discussed matters before the Central Water Commission and the Krishna River Management Board.
Senior advocate Vaidyanathan explained the current legal position to the Chief Minister. He discussed the Terms of Reference issued by the Centre under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act.
The meeting also covered water use during periods of low availability. It reviewed the allocations made by the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal based on 65 percent dependable water availability.
The Bachawat Tribunal had allocated 811 TMC to undivided Andhra Pradesh. The Brijesh Kumar Tribunal later arrived at allocations that take the combined figure to about 1,050 TMC.
However, the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal award has not yet been notified. Litigation before the Supreme Court remains one of the reasons for the delay.
Revanth Reddy therefore directed officials to first focus on Telangana securing a larger share from the existing 811 TMC allocation. He also asked the team to prepare strong project wise allocation arguments.
Telangana Prepares for September Krishna Tribunal Hearings
The legal team informed the meeting that final arguments are proceeding under the revised Terms of Reference issued on October 6, 2023.
Andhra Pradesh completed its arguments on August 13. Telangana presented its rejoinder arguments on August 14. Further Telangana arguments will take place before the tribunal from September 16 to 18.
The Chief Minister asked lawyers and engineers to prepare detailed technical and legal evidence before the hearings. He stressed the need to explain Telangana’s historical disadvantages and basin requirements with supporting data.
The meeting also examined the issue of flood water. Revanth Reddy asked officials to establish clear criteria for identifying flood flows.
He said the team should examine the position when all three projects on the Krishna fill up and water flows downstream. Officials should also explain the issue of water being taken for projects designed around flood flows before actual floods occur.
The Chief Minister also discussed water diversions from Malyala and Muchumarri in Andhra Pradesh. He asked officials to examine their impact on power generation in Telangana.
He further directed the legal team to examine whether Telangana could seek compensation for electricity losses caused by such diversions.
The meeting discussed the proposed diversion of 45 TMC through Polavaram. Revanth Reddy directed officials to pursue Telangana’s claim for a 71 percent share in that water.
He also asked officials to highlight Telangana’s objection to Andhra Pradesh allegedly diverting 325 TMC for projects outside the Krishna basin. The state wants greater priority for projects within the basin.
The Chief Minister directed engineers to prepare details of all projects sanctioned before 2014. He also asked them to scientifically assess irrigation requirements for different crops.
The review covered several cases before the Supreme Court. These included Andhra Pradesh’s challenge to the Terms of Reference and its case seeking the transfer of projects to the KRMB.
Officials also discussed the case seeking notification of Krishna Tribunal II. The meeting further reviewed Telangana’s challenge to approvals for Karnataka’s Upper Bhadra and Upper Tunga projects.
The proposed Polavaram to Nallamala Sagar and Banakacherla water diversion also came up for discussion.
Revanth Reddy asked lawyers, engineers and irrigation officials to work together. He said Telangana’s arguments must remain strong across every legal and technical forum.
The meeting was attended by senior advocate Gopal Shankar Narayan, Advocate General Sudarshan Reddy, adviser Adityanath Das and Secretary Sridhar. Engineers from the Interstate Water Resources Department also participated.
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