Hyderabad: In a critical move to address the escalating drinking water crisis, the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) has sanctioned the release of 10.26 TMC of water to Telangana and 4 TMC to Andhra Pradesh from the Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar reservoirs.
The decision, finalised at a KRMB Three-Member Committee meeting on May 5, reflects the urgency of the situation as water levels in the Krishna basin continue to decline. The remaining water in the reservoirs is being held back as a buffer to manage potential emergencies.
On May 5, gross storage in the two reservoirs stood at 21.215 TMC. After deducting evaporation and transmission losses, the usable supply was calculated at 16.972 TMC. The Board decided to prioritise drinking needs over state demands, which had far exceeded what could be feasibly provided Telangana requested 10.26 TMC, and Andhra Pradesh asked for 10 TMC.
Ultimately, KRMB allocated a total of 14.26 TMC, keeping the rest in reserve. Telangana received its full requested quota, while Andhra Pradesh was granted less than half of its demand.
The Board based its allocation on the minimum operational levels of the reservoirs +800 ft at Srisailam and +505 ft at Nagarjuna Sagar. As of the evaluation, 8.422 TMC was available above the minimum level at Srisailam and 12.793 TMC at Nagarjuna Sagar.
KRMB has issued strict directives that the released water be used exclusively for drinking. Where possible, the supply is to be channelled through Power Houses to generate electricity. Water release to Andhra Pradesh is scheduled to commence on May 22 via the NSP Right Main Canal at a flow rate of 5,500 cusecs.
To safeguard Telangana’s water security, KRMB mandated that Srisailam’s reservoir level must not fall below +800 ft until July 31. Engineering heads from both states have been assigned to jointly monitor and report the usage, ensuring full compliance with the terms of the release.
The allocation comes amid soaring summer temperatures and mounting demand across the Telugu-speaking states, underscoring the urgent need for coordinated water management.
