Hyderabad Krishna Water Dispute Deepens Over Srisailam
HYDERABAD: Telangana has been asked to stop water releases from the Srisailam reservoir for hydropower generation after the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) raised concerns over reservoir levels and interstate water-sharing rules. The development comes as Telangana and Andhra Pradesh remain divided over their respective withdrawals, adding pressure to water management at a time when rainfall expectations are creating uncertainty over future supplies.
The KRMB’s direction followed a complaint from Andhra Pradesh, which alleged that Telangana’s releases for power generation were contributing to a rapid decline in Srisailam’s storage. The board has asked Telangana to follow the water-sharing framework established under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014. The disagreement was also evident during a KRMB meeting held on Friday, where the two states failed to settle their differences over water utilisation. Both sides maintained that the other had exceeded its entitlement. With no consensus emerging, further deliberations have been pushed to later this month. The immediate concern extends beyond the interstate dispute. Reservoir management has direct implications for drinking water, irrigation and electricity generation across the Krishna basin. KRMB has highlighted the need for careful conservation, particularly amid forecasts of comparatively lower rainfall associated with El Niño conditions.
For Telangana, the competing demands are especially complex. Hydropower generation can provide electricity during periods of high demand, while retaining adequate reservoir storage is important for downstream water requirements. Decisions over releases therefore need to balance short-term energy needs with longer-term water security. The latest disagreement also illustrates the challenges of managing a river system shared by multiple states. When rainfall varies sharply, differences over allocation can become more consequential because each release affects the volume available to downstream users. Transparent accounting of inflows, withdrawals and reservoir storage can therefore become critical to reducing disputes. Separately, Telangana has sought faster progress on the Sammakka Sagar barrage, with the state requesting a no-objection certificate from Chhattisgarh. Discussions between the two states have covered potential backwater effects, land submergence and compensation for affected households.
Telangana has indicated that it is prepared to compensate families whose homes or agricultural land could be affected by submergence. Government teams are using differential GPS, field assessments and LiDAR surveys to map affected land and assets. The findings are expected to inform compensation and other project-related decisions. The proposed clearance is important for Telangana because outstanding approvals are linked to the project’s ability to achieve its intended storage capacity. At the same time, the emphasis on advance compensation and detailed surveys reflects the social costs that large water infrastructure can create for communities. Both developments point to a broader challenge for the region: securing water requires not only additional infrastructure but also coordinated basin-level management, reliable data and careful protection of affected communities. With the Srisailam issue returning for further discussion later this month, the next round of negotiations will be closely watched for a framework that can balance competing water, energy and livelihood requirements.
