Archive · 29 Aug 2026
Telangana, Andhra Pradesh Escalate Tit-for-Tat Nagarjunasagar Water Releases
Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are arguing over how much water each state can take.
Both states control different canals connected to the Nagarjunasagar reservoir.
On Friday, both increased the amount of water they were releasing.
Each state said it needed the water for people to drink.
Telangana says Andhra Pradesh is taking too much water from the Srisailam reservoir.
Andhra Pradesh says Telangana is using electricity generation to draw too much water from Srisailam.
Andhra Pradesh asked the Union Jal Shakti Ministry to intervene.
The Nagarjunasagar reservoir held about 181.929 tmc ft of water out of its 312.050 tmc ft capacity.
Andhra Pradesh increased releases from Nagarjunasagar’s NS Right Canal to 6,553 cusecs on Friday.
Telangana raised releases from the NS Left Canal to 6,650 cusecs.
Both states said the releases were needed to meet drinking water demands.
The states accuse each other of exceeding allocated Krishna River water shares.
Andhra Pradesh asked the Union Jal Shakti Ministry to stop Telangana’s Srisailam power-generation releases.
- Who
- The governments of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, with the Union Jal Shakti Ministry and Krishna River Management Board involved in the dispute.
- What
- The two states increased competing water releases from Nagarjunasagar while accusing each other of exceeding their water allocations.
- When
- The escalation occurred on Friday; the broader dispute began on August 26.
- Where
- Nagarjunasagar reservoir and the Srisailam reservoir in the Krishna River system.
- Why
- Both states cited drinking-water needs, while Andhra Pradesh said Telangana’s withdrawals could reduce water available for upcoming drinking-water requirements.
Telangana’s Position
Andhra Pradesh’s Position
Water releases from Nagarjunasagar
Telangana’s Position
Telangana increased its NS Left Canal release to 6,650 cusecs and said releases were needed to meet drinking-water requirements.
Andhra Pradesh’s Position
Andhra Pradesh increased its NS Right Canal release to 6,553 cusecs and likewise said the water was needed for drinking purposes.
Withdrawals from Srisailam
Telangana’s Position
Telangana’s reported position is that Andhra Pradesh is drawing water in excess of its share from the Srisailam reservoir.
Andhra Pradesh’s Position
Andhra Pradesh alleged that Telangana was using power generation at the Srisailam Left Bank Power House to draw excessive water and had taken more than 34 tmc ft.
Need for intervention
Telangana’s Position
Telangana continued drawing water despite Andhra Pradesh’s objections, according to Andhra Pradesh’s complaint.
Andhra Pradesh’s Position
Andhra Pradesh asked the Union Jal Shakti Ministry to stop Telangana’s releases and criticized the Krishna River Management Board for not intervening.
- Nagarjunasagar storage
- 181.929 tmc ft, against a total capacity of 312.050 tmc ft on Friday.
- Andhra Pradesh release
- 6,553 cusecs from the NS Right Canal, up from 2,000 cusecs.
- Telangana release
- 6,650 cusecs from the NS Left Canal, up from 2,000 cusecs.
- Dispute start
- The tit-for-tat releases began on August 26.
- Post-bifurcation arrangement
- An ad-hoc agreement gave Andhra Pradesh control of Srisailam and Telangana control of Nagarjunasagar.
- Andhra Pradesh’s allegation
- It said Telangana had drawn more than 34 tmc ft under the guise of power generation.
- Additional allegation
- Andhra Pradesh accused Telangana of using around 40,000 cusecs from Srisailam.