AP Insists on Sharing 100 Tmc-Ft of Krishna Water on 66:34 Ratio With TG Till July

Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh government sticks to its stand on Krishna water sharing with Telangana in the ratio of 66:34 as fixed by the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal earlier, even with the available 100 tmc-ft of water in Krishna basin up to July, 2027.

This is unless rainfall in upper catchment areas brings more water.

Under the influence of El Niño and less rainfall, an estimated 212 tmc-ft of water entered the Krishna basin so far this season. Out of this, only some 100 tmc-ft of water is available as on date with the remaining water used by both the states to meet the drinking water and irrigation requirements.

With both AP and TG coming up with claims and counterclaims on usage of water beyond allocation, the AP water resources department has proposed a status quo on water sharing between both AP and TG on 66.34 ratio. TG is insisting on water sharing on a 50:50 ratio.

In a recent meeting held by the Jal Shakti Ministry in New Delhi, it was estimated that nearly 100 tmc-ft of water is available in the Krishna basin. Such water, it said, needs to be used by both AP and TG to meet only the drinking water requirement of its people and livestock.

The question of supplying the water for raising crops is ruled out, given the current situation.

As for AP, its power generation at the multipurpose power house on the Nagarjuna Sagar right main canal is linked to release of water into the canal, so that such water can be used to fill tanks and overhead summer storage tanks, so as to meet the drinking water needs of the people. There should be no diversion of water, and this would be ensured with the deployment of patrolling teams all along the canal’s course.

AP water resources department sources said that out of the estimated available 212 tmc-ft of water in Krishna basin this season, Telangana has used excess quantities of water beyond its share. In such a scenario, AP wants the currently available 100 tmc-ft to be used as per a 66.34 ratio --with no state drawing excess water beyond its allocated share.

A senior official from the AP water resources department said, “As Telangana is estimated to have drawn excess water this season, we will insist on compliance with the 66.34 ratio of the available 100 tmc-ft water usage between AP and TG until next July, so as to avoid any issues of conflict.”

Moreover, the water department sounds alarm by saying that if the Krishna water is not allowed into the irrigation canals on a regular basis even to meet the drinking water needs of the people, salinity levels in the water will rise.

This, it says, will impact the cultivation of crops in the command areas.

Infographics

Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-1 assessed the quantum of water available in Krishna basin in undivided AP to be 811 tmc-ft in 1976

After bifurcation, Krishna water allocation was fixed at 512 tmc-ft for AP and 299 tmc-ft for TG in 2015.

IN the 12 years since 2014, eight years recorded surplus water and four year deficit in Krishna basin

Though sharing of Krishna water in a ratio of 66:34 between AP and TG was made as an interim arrangement having validity for a year, it is in vogue for the last 12 years