Amid low inflows caused by El Nino, the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) resolved to allocate water from Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar reservoirs only for drinking purposes. Telangana pushes for a 50% share, while Andhra Pradesh insists on maintaining the existing 66‑34 split.

  • Water from Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar earmarked for drinking only
  • Next meeting set for Sept 4 to decide share ratio
  • Telangana demands 50% share; Andhra Pradesh holds to 66‑34 split

The three‑member committee of the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) met on Monday and agreed that the water stored in the joint reservoirs—Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar (NSP)—will be used exclusively for drinking water needs, not for irrigation, citing El Nino‑induced poor inflows.

Current Reservoir Levels and Inflows

As of 6 p.m. on Monday, Srisailam held 166.7 tmc ft of water against its full capacity of 215.8 tmc ft, while Nagarjuna Sagar stored 178.3 tmc ft of its 312 tmc ft capacity. Inflows recorded that morning were 206.67 tmc ft for Srisailam and 75.6 tmc ft for NSP, aided by flood releases from upstream projects in Karnataka and Maharashtra as well as local catchment rains.

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State‑wise Water Utilisation

Andhra Pradesh is drawing 11,050 cusecs through its Pothireddypadu Head Regulator and Malyala‑Handri Neeva systems. Telangana, meanwhile, is utilizing 2,400 cusecs for the Kalwakurthy lift and an additional 2,000 cusecs from NSP to meet its drinking water needs, while also releasing water downstream after hydropower generation.

Disputed Share Ratio

Telangana’s Engineer‑in‑Chief O.V. Ramesh Babu stated the state has asked for a 50% share of the water because it will be used solely for drinking, and the Krishna basin population in Telangana is higher than in Andhra Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh, however, insists on continuing the ad‑hoc 66‑34 (AP‑TG) arrangement even for drinking‑water allocation, leading to a standoff.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that water allocation decisions in the Krishna basin have far‑reaching impacts on agriculture, industry, and urban water security across two of India’s most populous states. A shift to drinking‑water‑only usage could tighten irrigation supplies, affecting crop yields and farmer incomes, while also highlighting the growing climate‑driven water scarcity challenges in South India.

"El Nino‑driven deficits force water boards to prioritize human consumption over agriculture, a trend likely to repeat in future climate scenarios," says Dr. Anil Kumar, hydrology expert at Indian Institute of Water Management.
Did You Know?: Srisailam Reservoir, commissioned in 1959, is the highest‑elevation storage project on the India‑Tamil Nadu border.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Will this decision affect agricultural production?
A: Yes, reduced irrigation water could lead to lower crop yields in both states.

Q2: What will be decided in the next meeting?
A: The September 4 meeting will finalize the percentage share each state receives for drinking‑water supply until June‑July next year.