Water disputes and irrigation projects in Krishna and Godavari

Water disputes and irrigation projects in Krishna and Godavari

Subject: Polity

Context: Andhra Pradesh and Telangana had come to blows following a heated discussion between government officials over release of water from the NagarjunaSagar reservoir.

Concept:

• Andhra Pradesh and Telangana has been drawing Krishna water from four projects, Jurala, Srisailam, NagarjunaSagar, and Pulichintala for hydropower generation
• The usage has to be approved from the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB), an autonomous body that was set up after the bifurcation of the state, to manage and regulate the waters in the Krishna basin.
• The water that is used for power generation, farmers in the Krishna delta ayacut are yet to begin sowing of the kharif crop.
• The Andhra Pradesh government implements the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Project (RLIP) in Krishna river.
• After Telangana was carved out of Andhra Pradesh, the two states agreed to split the water share 66:34 on an ad hoc basis until the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-2 decided the final allocation.

Claims by Telangana,

• Telangana has called for a 50:50 allocation of water from the Krishna river.
• The Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project that was inaugurated in 2019 requires a huge amount of power to draw water from the Godavari river, the Telangana government needs the hydel energy to power its Nettempadu, Bheema, Koilsagar and Kalwakurthy lift irrigation projects.
• Telangana wants the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-2 to permanently settle the water dispute.