The Krishna river, a vital waterway in southern India, has become a focal point of contention between the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. This ongoing dispute centers around the equitable sharing of the river's waters, especially from the Srisailam reservoir, for essential activities like irrigation, consumption, and power generation.
The Krishna river serves as a natural boundary between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. It hosts significant projects such as the Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar dams, which are crucial to the regional water-sharing discussions. Recent proposals by Andhra Pradesh to expand the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Scheme, which seeks to extract more water from the Srisailam reservoir, have heightened tensions. Telangana argues that these actions contravene the AP Reorganisation Act of 2014. Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh maintains that it remains within its allocated water quota and is merely utilizing surplus floodwater.
Historically, the Potireddypadu head regulator on the Krishna has been a contentious issue, existing well before the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. The Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal (KWDT), established under the Inter-State River Water Dispute Act of 1956, plays a pivotal role in water allocation. The first tribunal was initiated in 1969, followed by a second in 2004. With the formation of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh sought to have Telangana included as a separate entity in the KWDT proceedings and requested a reassessment of water allocations. Article 262 of the Indian Constitution, along with the Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956, forms the legal backbone for addressing such conflicts.
In the present scenario, Telangana accuses Andhra Pradesh of potentially diminishing its rightful share of Krishna water through its projects, while Andhra Pradesh assures compliance with the established quotas. This dispute has reached the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB), and there remains the possibility of intervention by the Central Government or a ruling by the Supreme Court.
The Krishna river water dispute between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana is deeply rooted in historical, geographical, and legal complexities. As both states continue to assert their claims over the river's resources, achieving a balanced and legally sound resolution is essential for sustainable water management in the region.
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