Revanth Reddy vows to safeguard Telangana’s Krishna Godavari water rights until assured water share is determined
Referring to international river water sharing norms, CM argued that Telangana, covering 68% of the basin area, should be entitled to over 500 million tmcft of Krishna water
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy
Hyderabad: In a press meeting held at the Secretariat in the afternoon today, CM Revanth Reddy has staunchly declared his refusal to transfer control of projects and components associated with the Krishna and Godavari rivers until the allocation of Telangana's assured water share is conclusively determined. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy affirmed the state's commitment to protecting its interests, which, according to him, were adversely affected during the nearly decade-long tenure of the previous BRS government.
During the press meet Revanth Reddy elucidated the actions of the previous government, accusing it of jeopardizing Telangana's interests. He emphasized the Congress government's unwavering stance, insisting that the handover of projects to river management boards would only occur once Telangana's assured share is finalized. The government has already expressed objections to the recent meeting of the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB).
Referring to international river water sharing norms, Revanth Reddy argued that Telangana, covering 68% of the basin area, should be entitled to over 500 million tmcft of Krishna water. He criticized the previous government, led by K. Chandrasekhar Rao, for accepting a mere 299 tmcft as Telangana's share, contrasting it with Andhra Pradesh's 511 tmcft allocation with only 32% of the basin area.
The Chief Minister cited the minutes of a crucial 2015 meeting between the Central government and the two states, where Telangana secured a share of 299 tmcft instead of the expected 405 tmcft. He highlighted instances from the meetings of Union Jal Shakti Ministry and river management boards where the previous government, under Chandrasekhar Rao's leadership, agreed to relinquish project components without ensuring the state's justified share.
Revanth Reddy also shed light on the financial aspect, revealing that the BRS government had allocated ₹200 crore each to Krishna and Godavari river management boards for the maintenance of common projects, indicating a willingness to hand over projects to the Central government. The Chief Minister's statements underscore the ongoing dispute and the state's determination to rectify what it perceives as historical injustices in water allocation.
