Bhatti Vikramarka Urges Centre to Protect Telangana's Krishna Water Rights at SZC Meet

Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka presented the State's stance on protecting its rights over Krishna river waters and sought Central Government support for major irrigation projects during the Southern Zonal Council meeting held at Mahabalipuram on Thursday.

Addressing the meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the Deputy Chief Minister stated that Telangana is not seeking special privileges regarding Krishna waters, but is demanding its fair entitlement through established legal mechanisms. He urged protection against unilateral actions by other riparian states that harm downstream interests, stressing that established adjudicatory frameworks must be respected uniformly.

Referring to Karnataka's complaints against the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS) and Nakkalagandi lift irrigation schemes, Mr. Bhatti Vikramarka maintained that Telangana retains lower riparian rights over surplus waters. He noted that the allocation of Krishna water between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh remains under consideration before the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal – II (KWDT-II) and must be resolved through the legal process.

He also appealed for Central financial assistance for both Kaleshwaram and PRLIS. He explained that barrage rehabilitation is being pursued for Kaleshwaram, alongside the revival of Pranahita-Chevella and Tummidihatti, while Central funds remain critical to complete PRLIS works and make the project fully operational.

Turning to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, the Deputy Chief Minister called for the conclusive resolution of long-pending inter-State disputes between the two Telugu states. He pointed out that 12 years after bifurcation, the division of Schedule IX and Schedule X institutions, as well as unlisted entities, remains unsettled due to disputes over headquarters and related matters.

Mr. Bhatti Vikramarka stated that Telangana has submitted its views on these institutions and is prepared to resolve issues within the statutory framework of the Act, urging an end to endless correspondence. While noting that southern States will naturally compete for investments, industry, jobs, and talent, he emphasized that shared challenges such as water security, power grids, climate resilience, and urbanisation necessitate close inter-State cooperation.