Telangana presses for 70% share of Krishna waters as tribunal hearing nears end

HYDERABAD/NEW DELHI — Telangana has moved into the final stretch of its legal push for a larger share of Krishna river waters, presenting concluding arguments before the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II (KWDT-II). The state seeks roughly 70% of the 811 thousand million cubic feet (tmc ft) of assured flows once allocated to the former undivided Andhra Pradesh, arguing that current arrangements have not reflected basin realities since Telangana’s formation in 2014.

What Telangana is asking for

The state told the tribunal it wants a fresh apportionment anchored in basin-specific factors. Its claim is structured across different dependability bands and average flows, as well as allocations linked to Godavari diversions that historically supported the Krishna Delta.

By the numbers

• 75% dependable flows: 555 tmc ft
• 65% dependable flows: 43 tmc ft
• Average flows: 120 tmc ft
• In lieu of Godavari diversions: 45 tmc ft
• Total sought: 763 tmc ft, plus liberty to use surplus beyond average flows

The legal framework and status

• The proceedings are being conducted as a reference under Section 3 of the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act.
• Telangana’s final arguments, presented by senior counsel, have been underway since February, with the hearing now in its concluding stage.
• The state’s Irrigation Minister personally attending signals the political and administrative weight behind the claim.

Historical context

• KWDT-II had earlier awarded 1,005 tmc ft to undivided Andhra Pradesh, including 811 tmc ft at 75% dependability, 49 tmc ft at 65%, and 145 tmc ft from average flows.
• An additional 45 tmc ft was linked to Godavari diversions to support the Krishna Delta, bringing the total to 1,050 tmc ft, along with liberty to use water above average flows.
• Telangana contends it has faced longstanding inequities dating back to the creation of unified Andhra Pradesh in 1956, and that a state-specific, basin-based assessment is overdue since bifurcation.

Basis for Telangana’s claim

Officials outline a technocratic rationale grounded in widely used criteria for transboundary river allocation: - Catchment area within Telangana’s portion of the Krishna basin - Population residing within the basin - Drought-prone characteristics and water stress - Extent of cultivable land and command area, notably upstream of Nagarjunasagar

The state argues that these parameters justify a larger share than legacy arrangements imply, and that its demand aligns with globally recognized principles for equitable and reasonable use.

Objection to outside-basin diversions

A key point of dispute is Telangana’s objection to what it describes as significant outside-basin diversions by Andhra Pradesh. Hyderabad asserts that such diversions effectively reduce flows available within the Krishna basin and seeks directions restraining them, while urging the neighboring state to rely on alternative sources for non-basin needs. Telangana positions this as essential to ensure that in-basin users are not disadvantaged as allocations are revisited.

What changes on the ground if Telangana gets its way

A rebalanced award could reshape water availability for irrigation, drinking water, and industry across south and central Telangana. Potential effects include: - Strengthened supplies for projects drawing from Nagarjunasagar and upstream storages - Improved drought management in water-stressed districts within the basin - More predictable allocations for in-basin command areas, reducing reliance on emergency lifts or supplemental transfers - For urban systems, a more secure long-term profile for Krishna-dependent schemes serving the capital region

What happens next

While there is no official timetable for the tribunal’s decision, the proceedings are described as being at an advanced stage. Once the tribunal issues its award or directions, operational changes would typically require inter-state coordination on reservoir operations, season-wise scheduling, monitoring of diversions, and compliance mechanisms. Any award could also trigger follow-on administrative orders and potential legal review petitions, as has occurred in past interstate water matters.

The political backdrop

The case carries high political stakes in both states, with water security intertwined with agricultural performance and urban demand. Telangana’s direct involvement at the ministerial level underscores an effort to convert legal arguments into concrete policy outcomes. For Andhra Pradesh, which has defended its allocations and infrastructure plans, the tribunal’s eventual directives will be pivotal for planning and investment decisions involving the Krishna system.

The bottom line

The tribunal’s call on intra-basin needs, outside-basin use, and the post-bifurcation baseline will have lasting implications. By centering basin parameters, Telangana is seeking to reframe how Krishna water is apportioned between the two states. The outcome will influence project viability, cropping patterns, and urban water security across large parts of the region for years.