Telemetry, Dam repairs, River Boards in motion

metro india news  I hyderabad

Chief Ministers of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, Revanth Reddy and N. Chandrababu Naidu, participated in a high-level meeting convened by Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil at the Jal Shakti Ministry office in New Delhi on Wednesday. The meeting marked a crucial step forward in addressing long-pending inter-state river water disputes in a constructive and collaborative manner.

One of the major breakthroughs of the meeting was Andhra Pradesh agreeing to implement telemetry systems across major irrigation and hydropower projects on the Krishna river. This move, strongly advocated by Telangana, will ensure real-time and transparent monitoring of water releases and usage, thereby promoting accountability and efficient water management.

Both states also reached consensus on the operationalization of the River Management Boards as mandated in the AP Reorganisation Act. It was agreed that the Godavari River Management Board (GRMB) will be headquartered in Telangana, while the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) will be based in Andhra Pradesh. This long-standing issue had remained unresolved for years despite earlier decisions in the 2020 Apex Council meeting.

Recognizing the urgent need for structural maintenance at the Srisailam Dam, Andhra Pradesh agreed to take up immediate repair and rehabilitation measures. The dam, which plays a critical role in irrigation and hydropower generation for both states, has recently shown signs of wear that warrant priority attention. The matter was also highlighted by experts and brought to the notice of the Centre by the Telangana government.

To further facilitate resolution of all pending technical and operational issues concerning projects on the Krishna and Godavari rivers, both states agreed to constitute a Joint Technical Committee. This committee, comprising senior officials, engineers, and subject matter experts from both states, will be set up within a week and will work on a time-bound framework.

Telangana Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy stated that the meeting reflects a positive shift in inter-state cooperation and opens the door to long-term solutions on contentious water issues. He added that the implementation of telemetry systems and repair work at Srisailam would begin without delay and under close monitoring.

This was the first official engagement between the newly elected governments of both states after the 2024 general elections. With sensitive issues such as the Polavaram project, Rayalaseema Lift Scheme, and Banakacherla looming large, this meeting has set the tone for a structured and transparent mechanism to address disputes with the facilitation of the Government of India.