Hyderabad: The Krishna Board meeting will take place on October 1 to discuss water sharing between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The board informed officials from both states about the 21st meeting on Wednesday.
The Krishna Board meeting is expected to cover water shares and various projects in the two states. The board had earlier directed that available project water should be used only for drinking purposes amid the El Nino situation.
Meanwhile, the two states had failed to reach an agreement during a three-member committee meeting held on the 4th of this month. Telangana demanded a 50:50 distribution of Krishna water between the two states.
Andhra Pradesh, however, continued to seek water distribution in a 66:34 ratio. Telangana also sought 200 TMC of water, while Andhra Pradesh sought 104 TMC.
The differences over both the sharing ratio and the quantum of water prevented the committee from reaching an agreement. As a result, the board decided to convene another meeting to continue discussions.
The upcoming Krishna Board meeting will therefore take up the unresolved water-sharing issue between the Telugu states. Officials from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are expected to participate in the discussions.
Krishna Board meeting to revisit water-sharing demands
The water-sharing dispute remains focused on different demands from the two states. Telangana sought an equal 50:50 division, while Andhra Pradesh sought the 66:34 formula.
In addition, the states placed different demands regarding the quantity of water. Telangana requested 200 TMC, whereas Andhra Pradesh sought 104 TMC.
The earlier three-member committee discussions did not produce a settlement on these demands. Therefore, the Krishna Board scheduled its 21st meeting for October 1.
Various project-related matters are also likely to come up during the meeting. The board’s earlier direction on drinking-water use will also remain relevant to the discussions.
The board has already stated that existing water stored in the projects should be reserved only for drinking purposes in view of El Nino. The upcoming meeting is expected to address the pending issues between the two states.
The Krishna Board meeting comes after the latest committee-level discussions failed to resolve the competing water-sharing demands. Further discussions are expected when officials from both states meet on October 1.