Telangana’s share of Krishna use declines

metro india news I hyderabad

Recent water-use figures indicate that Telangana’s share in the utilisation of Krishna river waters has been steadily declining. Although a temporary sharing ratio of 34% for Telangana and 66% for Andhra Pradesh has been followed since the bifurcation of the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, Telangana has been unable to utilise even that proportion in actual terms.

The decline has become particularly significant in the past two years. Telangana accounted for 28.49% of the total Krishna water utilised in 2024, but its share fell further to 25.77% in 2025. During the same period, Andhra Pradesh’s share increased from 71.51% to 74.27%.

Based on the temporary 34% allocation principle, Telangana’s share of the total 2025 utilisation of 1,038.98 TMC would have been more than 353 TMC. However, its actual utilisation stood at only 267.73 TMC — around 85 TMC less than the 34% benchmark. Andhra Pradesh, meanwhile, utilised 771.25 TMC, widening the gap in actual water use between the two states.

Why is Telangana unable to utilise its share?

Water utilisation depends on several factors beyond the availability of water in the river. These include the capacity of irrigation projects, reservoir management, canal infrastructure, lift irrigation systems, availability of electricity, pumping capacity and the timely release of water. Therefore, alongside the question of how much water Telangana is entitled to, another equally important question is how much of its entitled water the state is actually able to utilise.

Telangana needs to remain vigilant

Future discussions on water distribution could take into account several factors, including the requirements of irrigation projects, cultivated area, drinking water needs, the river basin and historical utilisation patterns. 

Telangana therefore faces a two-pronged challenge. On one hand, it needs to strongly argue for its rightful share of Krishna waters. On the other, it needs to strengthen the capacity of its irrigation infrastructure to ensure that the water available to the state is utilised fully and on time.

Failure to utilise available water could have implications for agriculture, drinking water supplies and industrial requirements in the future. The issue is particularly important for the southern districts of Telangana that depend heavily on the Krishna basin. The 2025 figures serve as an important warning for Telangana. Given the state’s future irrigation requirements, project objectives and claims over Krishna waters, the trend requires strategic attention.

For Telangana, the challenge is now twofold: protecting its rights over Krishna waters while ensuring that every available TMC is effectively utilised. Balancing these two priorities will be crucial for strengthening the state’s water position in the years ahead.