Telangana, AP Officials Clash Over Nagarjunasagar Water Release

A dispute between irrigation officials of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh resurfaced at the Nagarjunasagar Project in Nalgonda on Wednesday after both states drew water from the reservoir through their respective canals.

Andhra Pradesh officials began releasing 500 cusecs into the right canal at 11 a.m., gradually increasing the discharge to 2,000 cusecs by evening. Following this, Telangana irrigation officials alerted higher authorities and subsequently released 2,000 cusecs into the left canal.

The uncoordinated actions led to a heated argument between officials of the two states. Both sides cited drinking water requirements and the need to fill irrigation tanks as justifications for drawing water.

The releases occurred ahead of formal directives from the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB), whose scheduled meeting has been postponed to September 4. In the absence of clear directions, both states have been drawing water based on their immediate requirements.

The water level at the Nagarjunasagar Project has fallen close to the dead storage level due to poor inflows and the impact of El Niño, leaving clarity on the use of Krishna water for drinking purposes still pending.

According to Telangana officials, Andhra Pradesh has already fully utilised the 10 tmc ft of water allocated to it by the KRMB for drinking water last year. In contrast, Telangana has utilised approximately 8.5 tmc ft of its 15.90 tmc ft allocation, leaving about 7.4 tmc ft available.

Telangana officials maintained that the release into the left canal was made for drinking water needs using the state's unutilised allocation. Irrigation department chief engineer V. Ajay Kumar said the water released would also be used to fill the Peddadevulapally irrigation tank, adding that further details would follow state government directives. Telangana officials also said a report regarding Andhra Pradesh's water draw would be submitted to higher authorities.

Security has been tightened at the Nagarjunasagar Dam, with police personnel deployed to prevent any escalation.