The New Indian Express ·
KRMB asks Telangana to stop power generation
HYDERABAD: The three-member committee meeting of the Krishna River Water Management Board (KRMB), held here on Friday, failed to take any decision on water releases, with Andhra Pradesh and Telangana officials unable to reach an agreement on several key issues.
However, the KRMB suggested that Telangana stop power generation from the left bank power houses of Srisailam reservoir and that AP regulate water drawal through the Pothireddypadu Head Regulator, taking into account the storage in the common reservoirs and the drinking water requirements of both states.
The officials decided to place the matter before the Board in the next meeting and share the available water for drinking water needs between the sibling states. It may be recalled that the three-member committee meeting held on August 24 also failed to reach a conclusion on water releases.
During Friday’s meeting, both states lodged complaints against each other, with Andhra Pradesh alleging that Telangana was generating hydel power to deplete water at Srisailam, while Telangana alleged that AP was drawing water illegally from Pothireddypadu. Against this backdrop, the KRMB member-secretary requested both states to ensure that “there should not be water releases exclusively for power generation”.
He referred to paragraphs 2 and 3 of Schedule XII of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act (APRA), 2014, which state: “In the event of conflicting demand of water for irrigation and power, the requirement of water for irrigation shall take precedence. In the event of conflicting demand of water for irrigation and drinking water, the requirement of water for drinking water shall take precedence.”
The member-secretary also requested that “the releases from Pothireddypadu shall be regulated, duly taking into account the storage position of the common reservoirs and the drinking water requirements of both states. Considering shortage of availability of water in common reservoirs, the available water in both the reservoirs may be utilised judiciously”.
Telangana demands halt to Pothireddypadu water drawal
During the meeting, AP furnished its water requirement for the period from September 2026 to August 2027 as 104 tmcft for filling the feeder water tanks and maintaining the required water level so that drinking water could be supplied through canals. AP further stated that, considering the availability of water in the common reservoirs as on September 3, 2026, its eligible share, based on the 66:34 ratio, worked out to 97.41 tmcft. Accordingly, AP requested that necessary orders for release of its eligible share of water be issued. Further, AP requested that the release of water through the left bank power houses of Srisailam reservoir be stopped.
Telangana officials insisted that the available water be distributed between the two states in a 50:50 ratio. Telangana requested that the drinking water requirements of both states be shared based on the population ratio in the basin. It furnished its water requirement for the period from September 2026 to August 2027 as 200 tmcft, including 46 tmcft for drinking water needs. Telangana also demanded that drawal of water through the Pothireddypadu Head Regulator be stopped.
The KRMB member-secretary stated that priority should be accorded to the drinking water requirements of the population dependent upon these reservoirs and that the available water should be utilised judiciously, particularly in view of the prevailing El Nino effect and the forecast of deficient rainfall during the coming months.
Various methods and formulae for determining the quantum of water to be released towards drinking water requirements were deliberated upon during the meeting. However, no consensus could be reached between the members representing the two states regarding the sharing of available water in the common reservoirs of Nagarjuna Sagar Project (NSP) and Srisailam for meeting drinking water requirements. The members agreed to place the matter before the ensuing Board meeting for further consideration, the Board said in its minutes later.
The KRMB member secretary requested the Engineers-in-Chief (EnCs) of both states to convey a suitable date convenient to the members representing the respective States to conduct the 21st KRMB meeting at the earliest.