Telangana's RDS water share non-negotiable, says Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy
Synopsis
Telangana's Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy has drawn a hard line on the Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme, convening a high-level review as the state battles allegations of unauthorised Krishna river water drawal by Andhra Pradesh. With the KRMB already on the ground and a legal-technical action plan in motion, the inter-state water war is heading toward a critical confrontation ahead of the kharif season.
Key Takeaways
Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy declared on 22 June that Telangana will not compromise on its Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme (RDS) water allocation.
A high-level review meeting on RDS and Tungabhadra Dam issues was held at the B.R.
Ambedkar Telangana State Secretariat , Hyderabad.
The meeting was triggered by the ongoing controversy over alleged unauthorised Krishna River water drawal by Andhra Pradesh .
Engineers from the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) last week inspected the RDS site in Karnataka and met officials from all three states.
An action plan has been formulated to present Telangana's legal, technical, and administrative arguments before tribunals and inter-state bodies.
Officials have been directed to prepare a comprehensive report and remain vigilant to protect farmers in the Krishna River basin.
Telangana's Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy on Monday, 22 June issued a firm warning that the state will brook no compromise on its allocated water share under the Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme (RDS), vowing to fight on every platform to protect the irrigation rights of farmers in the RDS ayacut. The declaration came during a high-level review meeting held at the B.R. Ambedkar Telangana State Secretariat in Hyderabad.
What the Review Meeting Covered
The meeting undertook a comprehensive examination of RDS and Tungabhadra Dam water distribution issues. Minister Reddy directed officials to strongly assert Telangana's entitlements regarding the utilisation of Tungabhadra waters, calling the protection of those rights the government's primary objective. He instructed officials to remain vigilant so that Telangana farmers do not suffer losses due to the actions of upstream states.
The minister also asked officials to prioritise the irrigation needs of farmers in the Krishna River basin and to prepare a comprehensive report covering legal, technical, and administrative dimensions. An action plan, he said, has already been formulated to present Telangana's arguments forcefully before tribunals, boards, and inter-state meetings.
The Andhra Pradesh Controversy
The meeting was convened amid an escalating dispute over the alleged unauthorised drawal of Krishna River waters by Andhra Pradesh. Last week, a team of engineers from the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) inspected the RDS site in Karnataka and held a review meeting with officials from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka — signalling that the inter-state water row has drawn the attention of the federal regulatory body.
Notably, this is not the first time Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have clashed over Krishna water allocations. The two states, bifurcated in 2014, have a long-standing dispute over the division of river water assets, with the matter frequently surfacing before the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal and allied bodies.
What the Government Has Committed To
Minister Reddy reiterated that the Telangana government is committed to fully utilising its allocated water share and will strongly oppose any decision that harms the state's interests. He stated that the government will fight on all platforms — legal, administrative, and inter-governmental — for the irrigation security of Telangana farmers.
The meeting was attended by MLA Sanjeeva Reddy, Principal Secretary (Irrigation) E. Sridhar, Joint Secretary K. Srinivas, N.C. Ramesh Babu, and other senior officials.
What Happens Next
Officials have been tasked with preparing a detailed legal and technical dossier to strengthen Telangana's position at upcoming inter-state and tribunal-level deliberations. With the KRMB already engaged and a formal action plan in place, the dispute is likely to intensify in the weeks ahead as the kharif irrigation season draws closer.
Point of View
Not merely a political statement. The broader pattern is familiar: every kharif season renews the Telangana-Andhra Pradesh water standoff, with both states claiming inadequate shares from a river system whose post-bifurcation allocation remains contested. What is different this time is the explicit mention of an action plan covering legal, technical, and administrative tracks simultaneously, which indicates Telangana intends to fight on multiple fronts at once. Whether that translates into enforceable outcomes depends on how quickly the KRMB and the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal respond — institutions that have historically moved slowly relative to the urgency of seasonal water needs.
NationPress
22 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme (RDS) and why is it disputed?
The Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme (RDS) is an inter-state irrigation project on the Tungabhadra river that diverts water to farmland in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka. It has been a flashpoint between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh since the two states were bifurcated in 2014, with both claiming rights to a larger share of the water allocation.
Why did Telangana hold a high-level review meeting on 22 June?
The meeting was called amid an ongoing controversy over the alleged unauthorised drawal of Krishna River waters by Andhra Pradesh. It followed a Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) inspection of the RDS site in Karnataka and aimed to formulate Telangana's response across legal, technical, and administrative channels.
What action has the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) taken?
A team of KRMB engineers inspected the RDS site in Karnataka last week and held a review meeting with officials from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka. The inspection signals that the federal water regulatory body is actively monitoring the inter-state dispute.
What steps is the Telangana government taking to protect farmers' water rights?
The government has directed officials to prepare a comprehensive legal and technical report, formulated an action plan for presenting Telangana's case before tribunals and inter-state bodies, and instructed officials to remain vigilant against upstream actions that could harm farmers in the Krishna River basin.
Who attended the high-level review meeting in Hyderabad?
The meeting was attended by MLA Sanjeeva Reddy, Principal Secretary (Irrigation) E. Sridhar, Joint Secretary K. Srinivas, N.C. Ramesh Babu, and other senior officials, in addition to Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy.
