Hyderabad: The Telangana govt is committed to safeguarding the state’s rightful share of Krishna waters, declaring that not a single drop would be allowed to go waste.Irrigation minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy affirmed that the govt will ensure the maximum use of Krishna waters to meet irrigation, drinking, and industrial needs. He also announced that he would personally attend the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal (KWDT)-II hearing scheduled for Sept 23. While reviewing case preparations with senior lawyers and experts, the minister said the hearings from Sept 23 to 25 may be the last in the tribunal process. “We will present our case with clarity and resolve,” he said, adding that chief minister A Revanth Reddy would be briefed before Telangana’s arguments are placed before the tribunal. Since Feb 2025, Telangana’s case has focused on correcting historical injustices faced during the united Andhra Pradesh era. The state’s submissions have highlighted equitable distribution principles, basin-specific parameters, scientific crop water requirements, evolving cropping patterns, and water mismanagement by AP, including unauthorised diversions beyond the Krishna basin.Telangana has charged that AP expanded canal capacities and illegally diverted Krishna waters to outside regions, particularly through projects such as Godavari link schemes, Pattiseema, Chintalpudi, and Pulichintala. “Telangana’s demand for 71% of the 811 tmc dependable flow is based on just and equitable principles,” the minister explained. “Our documentary evidence shows that nearly the entire 65% dependable flow should be allocated to Telangana, given the state’s drought-prone areas and lack of historic irrigation infrastructure,” he said.Updated scientific assessments have shown potential savings of 291 tmc, thanks to better water-use planning and alternative sources by AP, which Telangana argues should be redistributed fairly. To strengthen its case, the govt is preparing orders for projects such as capacity expansions at Kalwakurthy, Nettempadu, and Palamuru–Rangareddy lift irrigation schemes, new reservoirs for Hyderabad’s water needs, and the Jurala Flood flow canal, designed to divert 100 tmc during floods.
