Appearing before the Brijesh Kumar-headed Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal–II (KWDT–II) on Friday (May 16), senior Telangana Counsel Vaidyanathan strongly contested the existing water allocation formula, and pressed for justice in irrigation matters for the state’s backward regions.
Telangana emphasised that erratic rainfall patterns make agricultural livelihoods increasingly unviable, especially in dry areas. Therefore, it pleaded that at least one dry irrigation crop should be guaranteed to sustain farmers and rural farm labourers.
Presenting comparative data, TG pointed out that only 15 per cent of Telangana’s cultivable area in the Krishna Basin has assured irrigation, whereas Andhra Pradesh enjoys over 95 per cent coverage.
Highlighting the national goal of “more crop per drop,” Telangana cited its efficient water use, that is, irrigating 12,800 acres per TMC, against Andhra Pradesh’s 8,400 acres per TMC. It urged the Tribunal to impose higher water-use efficiency norms on Andhra Pradesh and transfer the water saved to Telangana.
Telangana also raised concerns over the diversion of water to outside-basin projects, reminding the Tribunal of the KWDT-I observation that more weight must be given to inside-basin projects.
TG pointed out that the SLBC project, despite being an inside-basin scheme, was ignored by United Andhra Pradesh, which instead
diverted water to the SRBC. Telangana urged the Tribunal to rectify this by revising SRBC allocations and ensuring an assured water supply to SLBC. TG argued that projects like Jurala were unfairly placed under secondpriority sets despite being inside the basin, while outside-basin schemes like the KC Canal and KDS were prioritised and given a dependable water supply.
Telangana reminded the Tribunal of KWDT-I’s remarks, noting the historic neglect of Mahbubnagar, and how reorganisation of states had denied irrigation facilities to the region.
Citing KWDT-I’s conditional allocation of 17.84 TMC to Jurala, Telangana argued that the project had been disadvantaged despite being necessary and inside the basin. It also noted that KWDT-I rejected additional water demands for KC and KDS canals, even though they were listed as firstpriority, highlighting inconsistencies in prioritisation. The next round of hearings for Telangana’s arguments is scheduled from July 23 to 25.
