In a significant move to strengthen Telangana’s legal position in the Krishna water-sharing dispute, Minister for Irrigation and Civil Supplies Uttam Kumar Reddy held an extensive review meeting with the legal and irrigation teams on Sunday.

The Minister assured that the Telangana government would provide all possible support to the legal team representing the State and asserted that he would personally attend the proceedings of the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II (KWDT-II) whenever matters related to Krishna and Godavari rivers come up for hearing.

The meeting, held at Jala Soudha in Hyderabad, was attended by senior advocates, irrigation officials, and legal consultants, including the Advisor to the government for the Irrigation department, Adityanath Das. Senior counsel CS Vaidyanathan, who is leading Telangana's legal team, and other lawyers briefed the Minister on the arguments presented before the Tribunal during the detailed sessions held on April 5 and 6.

The discussions covered Telangana's core claims, the current legal status and preparations for the upcoming hearings scheduled on April 15, 16 and 17.

Uttam Kumar Reddy was briefed in detail about Telangana’s stance on Krishna water allocation, and the data being used to substantiate the State’s claim.

The legal team outlined how Telangana had historically been deprived of its fair share of Krishna waters, and how the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in 2014 further complicated water distribution. The State’s arguments emphasised the need for equitable and just allocation, considering the basin area, population, and existing irrigation potential of Telangana.

The Minister actively led the deliberations and offered key insights on the legal and administrative approach Telangana should adopt. He also discussed broader strategic directions to be pursued during the hearings, including the assertion of Telangana’s rights based on legal, constitutional, and technical grounds.

Uttam Kumar Reddy highlighted that Telangana’s case is not just about statistics but also about justice and the State’s right to develop its irrigation infrastructure without facing arbitrary constraints.