Telangana Raises Key Irrigation Demands at Southern Zonal Council Meeting

Telangana has raised a series of key irrigation-related demands at the Southern Zonal Council meeting held in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu. The state has sought the cancellation of approvals granted to Karnataka’s Upper Bhadra project, arguing that the project could affect the interests of downstream states. Telangana has also urged the Centre to accord national project status to either the Kaleshwaram or Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Project and provide financial assistance for its implementation.

The state also raised issues concerning the sharing of Krishna river waters, maintaining that Karnataka should not be considered a lower riparian state in the context of the specific dispute and referring to the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal’s October 2016 order. On the Godavari-Cauvery link, Telangana proposed that the project be taken up from Ichampalli. The state sought half of the proposed 148 TMC allocation and requested permission to transfer up to 200 TMC through the project.