Telangana also seeks liberty to use the entire surplus over average flows, which would give it nearly 70% of the original award.
Published Sep 25, 2025 | 8:00 AM ⚊ Updated Sep 25, 2025 | 8:00 AM
Telangana Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy. Credit: www.facebook.com/uttamkumarreddy
Synopsis: Telangana demands 70% of Krishna waters (763 TMCFT) from the KWDT-II award, citing scientific and equitable principles. Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy accused Andhra Pradesh of misusing waters and slammed the previous BRS government’s concessions. Telangana also opposes Karnataka’s Almatti dam height increase and vows to secure its rightful share through the tribunal and Supreme Court.
Telangana pressed its claim for 70 percent of Krishna waters, allocated earlier to undivided Andhra Pradesh under the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II (KWDT-II) award, as the tribunal resumed hearings for the state’s final arguments in New Delhi on Tuesday, September 23.
Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, who appeared at the hearings, said the demand was meant to correct what he termed as a historical injustice in water sharing.
Speaking to reporters after the session, he declared: “Telangana will fight for its rights in Krishna and Godavari waters. The government is determined to secure a fair distribution based on scientific and internationally recognised parameters.”
The KWDT-II had earlier awarded 1,005 TMCFT (thousand million cubic feet) to undivided Andhra Pradesh. This included 811 TMCFT at 75 percent dependability, 49 TMCFT at 65 percent dependability, and 145 TMCFT from average flows. An additional 45 TMCFT from Godavari diversions took the total to 1,050 TMCFT.
Telangana, carved out in 2014, is now demanding 763 TMCFT. This includes 555 TMCFT from 75 percent dependable waters, 43 TMCFT from 65 percent dependable flows, 120 TMCFT from average flows, and the entire 45 TMCFT from Godavari diversions. The state also seeks liberty to use the entire surplus over average flows, which would give it nearly 70 percent of the original award.
Reddy said Telangana’s case was built on basin-specific parameters such as catchment area, population, drought-prone regions, and cultivable land.
“These figures are not arbitrary. They are grounded in scientific and equitable sharing principles accepted worldwide,” he said. He emphasised that in-basin needs must take precedence over diversions.
Taking aim at Andhra Pradesh, he accused it of misusing large volumes of Krishna waters for projects outside the basin. Telangana, he said, had asked the tribunal to curb such diversions and redirect the saved waters to its drought-hit districts.
“Our state cannot be deprived of its rightful share while another state diverts water out of the basin,” he asserted. He added that Andhra Pradesh should explore alternate sources.
The minister also criticised the previous BRS government for conceding too much to Andhra Pradesh. He alleged that the BRS had agreed to just 299 TMCFT for Telangana while conceding 512 TMCFT to AP. This deal, he said, remained in place for nearly a decade.
“It was a betrayal of Telangana’s farmers and drought-prone areas,” he charged, adding that the Congress government had formally rejected the arrangement and reopened the case.
Beyond the Andhra dispute, Reddy vowed to resist Karnataka’s plan to raise the Almatti dam height, warning that it would cut Telangana’s share.
“Telangana will strengthen its fight in the Supreme Court against Karnataka’s proposal,” he said.
He insisted the state would not allow any action that reduces its entitlements, no matter which party governs the neighboring states. “Whether Karnataka has a Congress government, Andhra Pradesh a TDP government, or Maharashtra a BJP government, Telangana will not compromise. Not a single drop of our rightful water will be given away.”
Reddy’s personal presence at the tribunal – a rare move for a sitting irrigation minister – was meant to signal that the government is serious about securing Telangana’s due share.
Expressing confidence in the tribunal chaired by Justice Brijesh Kumar, he assured the people that justice would be won across dependable flows, average flows, surplus waters, and Godavari diversions. “The injustice of the past cannot continue. We will fight to the end and ensure Telangana gets its rightful share,” he concluded.
(Edited by Amit Vasudev)
