Krishna panel punts, thirst gets first
Reports say a KRMB three-member committee put off a call on using Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar water, with drinking needs to be prioritised and a follow-up set for September 4. Telangana wants parity; Andhra wants Pothireddypadu. The BJP-led Centre’s board still can’t make a basic decision.
The Krishna board deferred a decision on releases from Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar until September 4.
A three-member Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) committee met on August 24 and deferred a decision on operating Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar, according to reports from the meeting. The panel, chaired by KRMB Member Secretary Satish with the Engineer-in-Chiefs of Telangana (Ramesh Babu) and Andhra Pradesh (Narasimha Murthy), will reconvene on September 4. The reported interim line: prioritise drinking water in both states given the conditions. The KRMB has not published minutes or an order; this is based on the two contemporaneous reports.
Telangana’s position, per the report: keep drinking-water releases on a 50:50 basis and object to Andhra’s pull through Pothireddypadu. Ramesh Babu alleged Andhra has already drawn 10 TMCft beyond its share and said Telangana has complained to the KRMB. Andhra’s counter, as quoted: Telangana agreed to Andhra using 22 TMCft via Pothireddypadu, and the sharing ratios weren’t on the table. No public KRMB document confirms either the 10 TMCft excess or the 22 TMCft “agreement”.
Context the BJP-led Centre’s KRMB has itself recorded: the dispute is not new. The board’s 2023–24 report notes no consensus on Krishna sharing last year, Telangana pressing for 50:50, and decisions kicked to small committees when states disagree. Which is exactly where we are again while Hyderabad and erstwhile districts plan drinking supply.
So, on a day when a plain, time-bound release plan was the job, the board postponed the decision and promised another meeting. Telangana asks for parity; Andhra asks for Pothireddypadu; the BJP-led Centre’s board asks for patience. Farmers and municipalities can’t run on patience.