HYDERABAD
The Telangana Irrigation Department has complained to the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) about unauthorized projects undertaken by Andhra Pradesh in violation of the AP Reorganization Act, 2014 and without securing approvals and clearances from statutory agencies. She asked the board to prevent AP from starting new projects.
In a letter addressed to the Chairman of Watersheds, Telangana Chief Engineer OV Ramesh Babu, in response to KRMB’s letter to the Jal Shakti Ministry, said that Telangana has submitted a compiled statement on government orders issued by AP in violation of APRA 2014 pursuant to administrative sanctions for ₹57.77 million water works related to Krihna river7. through a letter addressed in 2021.
The works relate to brand new projects and proposals aimed at further expansion of the scope and extent of diversions in the Pothireddypad Main Regulator (PRP-HR) for use in projects such as SRBC (Srisailam Right Bank Canal), TGP (Telugu Ganga Project), GNSS (Galeru-Nagari Sujala Sravanthi) and Sujala-Nevajala (Sravanthi) and HNSS Srisailam.
Further, detailed communications were sent to the river authority in 2022 and 2023, clearly pointing out the project violations committed by AP, requesting the river authority to prevent AP from undertaking any new schemes or capacity enhancements without proper review and recommendations of KRMB, approval by the Apex Council, stating that such actions by AP would have a direct and adverse impact on Telangana.
Despite repeated requests and detailed statements from Telangana, AP has been carrying out unauthorized constructions and capacity expansion and no action has been initiated by KRMB or the Centre. In a remarkable contrast, the river board has written to the Ministry of Justice to object to the Telangana projects, “which appears to be completely unsustainable and out of place”, the ENC said.
In line with the additional terms of reference issued by the Ministry of Justice in October 2023, which specifically stipulates allocations specific to the KWDT-II project, Telangana has anticipated its requirements and is seeking suitable allocations, the ENC said.
He explained that Telangana has already provided answers to the issues raised by AP through its letters addressed to the river board in 2021 and that the projects have been taken up by Telangana in accordance with the freedom granted to KWDT-I. Telangana has taken additional online and offline storage in the basin, all of which existed before 2014 and are not covered by the provisions of APRA 2014. In contrast, AP has consistently resorted to “clandestine diversion of waters outside the basin through PRP-HR”, he pointed out.
Additional requirements are planned by the AP
Utilization and additional 114.75 tmc ft to irrigate 4,67,326 acres of new ayacut in Kurnool, Kadapa, Anantapur, Chittoor, Prakasam and Nellore districts through existing projects
Utilization of additional 176.46 tmc ft planned under intended projects to irrigate 6,30,882 acres of new ayacut in Guntur, Prakasam, Kurnool, Kadapa and Anantapur districts
Telangana plea
Ask AP to drop misleading allegations against Telangana projects to serve drought-prone and backward areas in Krishna basin
Restrain AP from undertaking any new projects, expansion or abstraction of water without proper assessment, recommendation and approval of River Board, Apex Council till completion of KWDT-II water shares
Take cognizance of MOJS violation of AP brought to Telangana’s attention
Published – 28 Feb 2026 21:11 IST
