Hyderabad Irrigation Concerns Grow Over Krishna Water Use
HYDERABAD: A fresh political dispute over Krishna river water has put irrigation availability for farmers in the Nagarjuna Sagar command area back in focus, with opposition leaders demanding the release of reservoir water into the left canal and lift irrigation systems. The debate comes as farmers assess water availability for the current agricultural season and concerns grow over competing demands within the Krishna basin.
The demand was raised at a press interaction in Nalgonda, where a senior opposition leader alleged that water was being diverted through the Pothireddypadu system towards projects in Andhra Pradesh. These claims could not be independently established from the information available. The opposition has argued that the Nagarjuna Sagar reservoir has sufficient storage to support irrigation releases. The reservoir level was cited at around 532 feet, with an estimated 30 TMC of water available. The demand is for authorities to assess current storage, inflows, downstream requirements and irrigation needs before determining releases. The dispute centres on a wider challenge in the Krishna basin: water allocation must balance irrigation, drinking-water requirements, reservoir management and the interests of neighbouring states. During periods of changing rainfall and uncertain inflows, decisions on releases can have direct consequences for farm planning and rural incomes.
The Nagarjuna Sagar water release issue is particularly important for the command area dependent on the reservoir and associated canal systems. Delayed irrigation supplies can affect crop decisions, input purchases and farm incomes, especially where farmers have limited alternatives to canal or lift irrigation. Opposition leaders have also revived allegations about the volume of water historically diverted through Pothireddypadu. One claim put the cumulative diversion at about 148 TMC. Such figures require verification against official reservoir records, inter-state water accounting and river-basin data before they can be treated as established facts. The political dimension is likely to intensify if an irrigation release is delayed. The opposition has threatened a broader agitation and said it will formulate its next course of action after discussions with its leadership.
For policymakers, however, the immediate issue extends beyond political contestation. Transparent disclosure of reservoir storage, inflows, releases and irrigation demand would allow farmers and the wider public to understand the basis for water-management decisions. The Nagarjuna Sagar water release debate also underlines the need for longer-term water planning. More reliable irrigation systems, efficient groundwater management, rainwater harvesting and improved basin-level coordination can reduce dependence on emergency decisions during each agricultural season. As the controversy develops, the key question will be whether authorities can establish a clear, data-backed release strategy that protects farm livelihoods while maintaining equitable and sustainable management of the Krishna basin.
