Hyderabad: The Centre has announced plans to convene a crucial meeting with the riparian states- Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh-to address the long-standing Krishna River water-sharing disputes. Despite years of negotiations, legal hurdles and infrastructural challenges continue to hinder resolution efforts.
Among the most pressing concerns is the significant volume of Krishna River water flowing into the sea annually, especially during surplus rainfall years. For instance, in 2020-21, approximately 1,278.1 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) of surplus water was released into the sea from the Prakasam Barrage, the highest in two decades.
This highlights inefficiencies in water management while drinking water needs in command area cities, including Hyderabad, remain inadequately addressed. Hyderabad is entitled to receive 16.5 TMC of Krishna water annually to meet its drinking water requirements, but this allocation is often unmet, thus adding to conflict situation.
The Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II (KWDT-II), established in 2004, submitted its report in 2010. However, its recommendations have yet to be implemented due to ongoing legal complexities. The formation of Telangana in 2014 further complicated the matter, leading to multiple extensions of the tribunal’s mandate, which now runs until July 31, 2025.
A critical issue before the tribunal is Karnataka’s demand for Supreme Court intervention to revise an earlier ruling. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar emphasized the need for clarity in jurisdictional matters and updated assessments to ensure equitable water distribution.
The Centre’s initiative to convene this meeting is viewed as a welcome step towards resolving longstanding challenges, balancing competing interests, and establishing consensus-driven solutions for effective water-sharing arrangements among the riparian states.
