HYDERABAD: The dispute over Krishna river water sharing between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh has led to a war of words between the BJP and BRS, with both parties accusing each other of being responsible for Telangana's smaller share of the river's water.
The BJP claims that the BRS government gave away the state's rights to a larger share of water by agreeing to just 299 TMCft of water from Krishna. However, the BRS argues that this claim is inaccurate. They explain that the agreement in 2015, during a tripartite meeting with Andhra Pradesh and the Centre, was for just one year. At that time, Telangana had not completed some of its projects for utilising Krishna water, including Bima, Nettampadu, Kalwakurthy, and Koilsagar projects. The minutes of the 2015 meeting clearly state that Telangana intended this arrangement to be for one year only. Later, Telangana requested to continue with the same provision for an additional year as the projects were still under construction.
Recently, Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao inaugurated the Palamuru Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme, leading to criticism from BJP national vice-president D.K. Aruna, who accused the state government of giving away Telangana's rightful share of water to Andhra Pradesh. In response, BRS working president and Minister K.T. Rama Rao criticised the BJP for suggesting that the Centre was holding back Telangana's demand for a 50-50 share of Krishna river water until a final decision is reached by the Krishna Waters Dispute Tribunal.
A BRS leader said that Telangana had initially agreed to 299 TMCft of water as a temporary measure due to project delays and subsequently demanded a 50-50 share with Andhra Pradesh starting in 2018. The current allocation of 511 TMCft for Andhra Pradesh and 299 TMCft for Telangana is temporary and pending the final decision of the Krishna Waters Dispute Tribunal, Telangana is requesting a 50-50 share on the same temporary basis.
