The governments of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have been at loggerheads with the amount of water that is being consumed by each state, from the Srisailam Project reservoir. The government of Andhra Pradesh is planning for a lift irrigation project along the Krishna River, so that it can supply water to the mostly dry Rayalaseema.
On the other hand, the government of Telangana has been arguing that the AP government is drawing an illegal amount of water – more than the amount that was negotiated by both the states earlier. Telangana Chief Minister KCR has tried to stop the AP government from drawing more water, and has even written several letters to the Krishna Board, asking for intervention. With the Krishna Board failing to take the necessary action, KCR has now written a letter to Union Water Resources Minister Gajendra Shekawat, demanding total control of the Srisailam reservoir.
During the partition of AP and Telangana, the sole control of the Nagarjuna Sagar reservoir was given to the Telangana government, and the control of Srisailam reservoir was given to the Andhra Pradesh government. With the AP government drawing more water than entitled to, CM KCR has requested that the sole control of even Srisailam reservoir be given to Telangana.
KCR also stated that AP government’s harmful ways are posing a threat to the water requirements of the people of Telangana, including the water necessity of those living in Hyderabad – as there would be severe shortage of water if the AP government continued to draw more amounts of water than it is supposed to.