CWC Calls Key Meetings on Andhra-Telangana Water Dispute and Tummidihatti Barrage

The Central Water Commission (CWC) is convening two crucial inter-state meetings in New Delhi in early September to address pressing river water management disputes and major irrigation projects. The sessions will tackle an ongoing water dispute between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, as well as longstanding technical discussions between Telangana and Maharashtra regarding the proposed Tummidihatti barrage.

What Happened

The Ministry of Jal Shakti’s committee on river water management between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana will convene its second meeting on September 7 in New Delhi. Chaired by the CWC Chairman, the session was initiated following a VIP reference from Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy. The meeting comes amid heightened tensions after Andhra Pradesh unilaterally released water into the Nagarjunasagar Right Canal on a Wednesday evening without the clearance of the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB). In reaction, Telangana initiated water releases into the Left Canal later the same day. By Thursday evening, Andhra Pradesh was drawing 7,380 cusecs from the Right Canal, while Telangana was drawing 2,070 cusecs from the Left Canal.

Separately, the CWC has scheduled a meeting on September 1 involving senior water resources officials from Telangana and Maharashtra to deliberate on the Tummidihatti barrage across the Pranahita river. This dialogue follows correspondence by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to the Maharashtra Chief Minister on May 26, subsequent representations to the Prime Minister’s Office, and an August 5 letter to Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil requesting central intervention.

Key Highlights

• September 7 Dispute Meeting: The committee set up by the Ministry of Jal Shakti in January will review river water management issues between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
• Unilateral Water Drawals: Andhra Pradesh drew 7,380 cusecs through the Nagarjunasagar Right Canal without KRMB sanction, prompting Telangana to draw 2,070 cusecs via the Left Canal.
• Pending Agendas: Although the committee decided during its initial January 30 meeting that both states must submit detailed agenda items and supporting data, neither state has furnished them despite reminders.
• Meeting Participants: The September 7 discussion will include four officials each from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, along with representatives from the KRMB, Godavari River Management Board (GRMB), National Water Development Agency (NWDA), and CWC.
• September 1 Barrage Talks: Officials from Telangana and Maharashtra will meet under the CWC Chairman to examine technical hurdles concerning the Tummidihatti barrage.
• Height Revision Demand: Telangana has proposed increasing the barrage height from 148 metres to 152 metres to enable gravity-based water withdrawal and prevent heavy recurring power expenditures from high-capacity pumping.
• Submergence Findings: Telangana has cited studies from the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS) indicating that raising the water level would lead to only limited additional submergence.

Why This Matters

The discussions carry direct consequences for irrigation management and inter-state relations across southern and central India. The recent unapproved drawals from Nagarjunasagar demonstrate recurring friction over Krishna river waters in the absence of finalized procedural agendas between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Meanwhile, resolving the technical parameters of the Tummidihatti barrage across the Pranahita is vital for Telangana’s efforts to supply irrigation to its backward and drought-prone areas. Designing the barrage to deliver water by gravity rather than mechanical pumping is central to the state’s objective of minimizing operational expenditure and power consumption over the long term.

What to Watch Next

Officials from Telangana and Maharashtra will meet with the CWC on September 1 to examine the engineering viability and submergence data regarding the proposed 152-metre height for the Tummidihatti barrage. Following that, on September 7, delegations from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, alongside representatives from the KRMB, GRMB, NWDA, and CWC, will convene in New Delhi to outline further courses of action on Krishna basin management and address the unapproved releases from Nagarjunasagar.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was the September 7 meeting called by the CWC?

The meeting was arranged following a reference by Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and comes in the wake of unilateral water releases at the Nagarjunasagar Right Canal by Andhra Pradesh without KRMB approval, followed by counter-releases by Telangana.

What is the core issue regarding the Tummidihatti barrage?

Telangana wants to increase the agreed height of the barrage across the Pranahita from 148 metres to 152 metres. The state maintains that drawing water by gravity at 148 metres is not feasible and that high-capacity pumping would significantly raise recurring electricity costs.

Which agencies will participate in the Andhra Pradesh-Telangana talks?

The meeting will involve four officials each from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, along with officials from the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB), Godavari River Management Board (GRMB), National Water Development Agency (NWDA), and the Central Water Commission (CWC).

Source: Report based on details published by The Hindu.