Telangana Assembly passes unanimous resolution against KRMB control
The Telangana State Legislative Assembly on Monday unanimously passed a resolution declaring its refusal to hand over control of its projects to the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) unless certain conditions are agreed upon by the state government.
Hyderabad: The Telangana State Legislative Assembly on Monday unanimously passed a resolution declaring its refusal to hand over control of its projects to the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) unless certain conditions are agreed upon by the state government.
Irrigation Minister Capt N Uttam Kumar Reddy, while introducing the resolution, emphasized the significance of the Krishna River as a lifeline for southern Telangana, serving both irrigation and drinking water needs.
He highlighted historical discrepancies in water sharing, citing the unfair allocation of 299 TMC to Telangana and 512 TMC to Andhra Pradesh after the formation of the new state. Uttam Kumar Reddy explained that the creation of KRMB through the AP Reorganization Act 2014 posed challenges to Telangana’s interests, especially regarding the control of common projects like Srisailam Dam and Nagarjunasagar Dam.
The resolution specified conditions for handing over control to KRMB, including considerations for catchment areas, drought-prone regions, basin populations, and cultivable areas as the basis for water sharing. It referenced the KWDT-I Award, emphasizing in-basin needs, MDDL of Srisailam, limited outside basin diversions, and strict regulations on unauthorized construction of projects diverting Krishna water.
The House also urged the Government of India to withdraw the CRPF and return project control to the Telangana Government.
The irrigation minister gave a PowerPoint presentation explaining the resolution’s aims and objectives wherein he accused the previous BRS regime of surrendering Telangana’s interest by agreeing to 512 TMCs for Andhra Pradesh and 299 TMCs for Telangana. He asserted that the previous BRS regime decided to give away the control of projects. He also gave a detailed chronology of meetings and events and their implications to substantiate his allegation.
After over four hours of debate, the House unanimously passed the resolution.
In a detailed presentation, Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy pointed out the BRS Government’s failure to secure Telangana’s rightful share in the Krishna River and its decision to hand over project control to KRMB.
He highlighted the historical interim agreement in 2015, where Telangana, despite dominating in basin parameters, agreed to a 299:512 water-sharing ratio. The Chief Minister’s recorded stance in a 2016 Apex Council meeting supporting the continuation of the 2015-16 arrangement was cited, raising concerns about Telangana’s approach.
The postponement request for the Apex Council meeting in 2020 indirectly benefited Andhra Pradesh’s tendering process, and the decision to maintain the status quo had implications for future water-sharing negotiations.
The Gazette notification in 2021, specifying Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) and Godavari River Management Board (GRMB) jurisdictions, was a turning point, yet Telangana’s response raised questions. Despite agreeing to hand over components in 2021 and expressing no objection in 2022, the situation escalated in 2023 with Andhra Pradesh’s trespassing and forceful occupation of Nagarjuna Sagar Dam.
Uttam Kumar Reddy detailed AP’s increased withdrawal capacities and illegal diversions, blaming the BRS Government’s negligence. He emphasized the Congress Government’s refusal to surrender rights over Krishna and Godavari Rivers and vowed to continue fighting for Telangana’s interests.
The resolution declared that Telangana would not hand over control to KRMB unless conditions outlined by the state are fulfilled.
