1 week ago
KRMB Delays Krishna Water Sharing Decision Until September 4
Officials from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana met to discuss sharing Krishna River water.
The water is stored in the Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar reservoirs.
The board said the available water should be used only for drinking.
Both states agreed in principle with that purpose because of the El Niño effect.
However, they could not agree on exactly how much water each state should receive.
Telangana wants the water divided equally and says it needs about 50 tmc ft.
Andhra Pradesh has requested 47 tmc ft, although the articles describe different time periods for that request.
The board will meet again on September 4 to try to decide the issue.
The KRMB said available water in the Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar reservoirs should be used only for drinking needs.
The board postponed a decision on how much water Andhra Pradesh and Telangana may use until September 4.
The states agreed in principle to use available project water for drinking needs amid the El Niño effect.
Telangana sought a 50:50 sharing formula and about 50 tmc ft through August 2027.
Andhra Pradesh cited a 47-tmc-ft requirement, while the reported periods differed between the two accounts.
- Who
- The Krishna River Management Board, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana officials, including Satish Kamboj, K. Narasimha Murthy, and O.V. Ramesh Babu.
- What
- The KRMB postponed finalising the allocation of available Krishna water for drinking needs.
- Where
- The meeting took place in Hyderabad and concerned water in the Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar reservoirs.
- When
- The meeting was held on a Monday, and the next meeting is scheduled for September 4; the year is not stated for that date.
- Why
- The states need drinking water amid limited supplies and the El Niño effect.
Telangana’s Position
Andhra Pradesh’s Position
Requested allocation
Telangana’s Position
Telangana said it needs around 50 tmc ft for drinking water through August 2027.
Andhra Pradesh’s Position
Andhra Pradesh requested 47 tmc ft; its engineer-in-chief described the estimate as covering June to October 2026, while the other account reports the request through August 2027.
Sharing formula
Telangana’s Position
Telangana argued that available water should be shared equally, on a 50:50 basis, because of the El Niño year.
Andhra Pradesh’s Position
The articles do not specify Andhra Pradesh’s position on Telangana’s proposed 50:50 formula.
Agreement status
Telangana’s Position
Telangana maintained that Andhra Pradesh had already used more than its allocated share from the two reservoirs.
Andhra Pradesh’s Position
Andhra Pradesh said the states had agreed in principle to use available water for drinking needs, but acknowledged that no agreement on the amount of water had been finalised.
Key facts
- Next KRMB meeting
- September 4
- Water available
- Around 115 tmc ft in the two reservoirs
- Permitted use
- Drinking-water needs in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
- Telangana request
- Around 50 tmc ft through August 2027
- Andhra Pradesh request
- 47 tmc ft; one account describes this as the requirement from June to October 2026, while another describes it through August 2027
- Telangana proposal
- A 50:50 water-sharing arrangement during the El Niño year
- Meeting participants
- KRMB member secretary Satish Kamboj and the engineer-in-chiefs of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
Quotes
K. Narasimha Murthy
Andhra Pradesh water resources engineer-in-chief
“The board said there will be another meeting on that date when a decision will be taken on the requests and shares of water for Telangana and AP.”
deccanchronicle.com
“We have agreed in principle for usage of available water in both the projects to meet drinking water requirements in the wake of El Nino effect.”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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