Krishna water reaches Chennai reservoirs via Telugu Ganga canal
Synopsis
Andhra Pradesh has resumed Krishna River water supply to Chennai through the Telugu Ganga canal, with flow at the Poondi Reservoir now at 75 cusecs — up from 50 cusecs days ago. The release, triggered by a formal Tamil Nadu request, arrived three days late due to silt buildup and canal neglect, spotlighting the fragile state of inter-state water infrastructure that Chennai depends on every summer.
Key Takeaways
Krishna River water from Andhra Pradesh's Kandaleru Reservoir is flowing into Chennai's Poondi Reservoir at 75 cusecs as of 1 June 2025 .
Chennai's reservoirs collectively hold 7.154 TMC ft , or about 54.11% of total storage capacity.
Andhra Pradesh released approximately 1,900 cusecs into the Telugu Ganga canal following a formal request from Tamil Nadu.
Water travelled nearly 152 km and arrived at the Zero Point, Uthukottai on 28 May — three days behind schedule — due to silt accumulation and seepage losses.
Under the Telugu Ganga Project agreement, Tamil Nadu is entitled to 12 TMC ft of Krishna water annually.
Krishna River water released from Andhra Pradesh's Kandaleru Reservoir has begun flowing into Tamil Nadu's drinking water reservoirs through the Telugu Ganga canal system, offering relief to Chennai's water managers during the peak summer season. The inflow, confirmed by officials on Sunday, 1 June, marks a critical boost to the city's storage levels as demand remains elevated.
Current Inflow and Reservoir Status
Water Resources Department (WRD) officials confirmed that Krishna water is currently entering the Poondi Reservoir at 75 cusecs (cubic feet per second), up from an initial 50 cusecs recorded a few days earlier. The water crossed into Tamil Nadu at the Zero Point in Uthukottai, Tiruvallur district, before being channelled toward Poondi — one of the four major reservoirs supplying Chennai's drinking water.
Collectively, Chennai's reservoirs currently hold 7.154 TMC ft (thousand million cubic feet) of water, equivalent to approximately 54.11% of their total storage capacity.
How the Release Was Triggered
Tamil Nadu authorities formally requested additional supplies from their Andhra Pradesh counterparts to meet Chennai's elevated summer demand. In response, the Andhra Pradesh government released approximately 1,900 cusecs from the Kandaleru Reservoir into the Telugu Ganga canal network. The water had to travel nearly 152 kilometres through the canal system before reaching the Tamil Nadu border.
While officials had initially anticipated the flow to arrive at Zero Point by 25 May, it reached the border on 28 May — three days later than expected — with a discharge of 50 cusecs, which has since risen to 75 cusecs.
Why the Water Arrived Late
According to WRD officials, the delay was primarily attributable to poor maintenance and significant silt accumulation across several stretches of the Telugu Ganga canal. Seepage losses and absorption along the route further reduced flow velocity, slowing the water's progress toward Tamil Nadu. The episode underscores longstanding concerns about the upkeep of shared inter-state canal infrastructure.
The Telugu Ganga Project Agreement
Under the Telugu Ganga Project agreement, Andhra Pradesh is obligated to supply Krishna River water to Tamil Nadu annually to support Chennai's drinking water needs. As per the pact, Tamil Nadu is entitled to receive 12 TMC ft of water each year — 8 TMC ft during the July–October period and 4 TMC ft between January and April. This summer release falls outside the standard schedule, reflecting the urgency of Chennai's demand.
Outlook for Chennai's Water Supply
WRD officials expressed confidence that the continuing inflow would progressively strengthen storage levels across Chennai's reservoirs and provide added security for the city's drinking water supply in the months ahead. With the southwest monsoon expected to arrive over Tamil Nadu in the coming weeks, the Krishna water inflow serves as a critical bridge until seasonal rains replenish the city's reservoirs.
Point of View
Not a shortage of water. That a city of Chennai's size remains this dependent on a single inter-state canal, with no redundancy and chronic upkeep deficits, reflects decades of deferred infrastructure investment. The 54% reservoir level is not reassuring when the margin between adequacy and crisis is this thin and the delivery system this unreliable.
NationPress
17 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Krishna River water being sent to Chennai?
Tamil Nadu formally requested additional water from Andhra Pradesh to meet Chennai's elevated drinking water demand during the summer months. Under the Telugu Ganga Project agreement, Andhra Pradesh supplies Krishna River water to Tamil Nadu annually, and this release was made in response to that request.
How much water is currently flowing into Chennai's reservoirs?
Krishna water is entering the Poondi Reservoir at 75 cusecs as of 1 June 2025, up from an initial 50 cusecs recorded a few days earlier. Andhra Pradesh released approximately 1,900 cusecs from the Kandaleru Reservoir into the Telugu Ganga canal network.
Why did the water arrive later than expected?
The water was expected at the Tamil Nadu border by 25 May but arrived on 28 May, three days late. WRD officials attributed the delay to poor maintenance, silt accumulation in the Telugu Ganga canal, and seepage losses that reduced flow velocity along the 152-kilometre route.
What is the Telugu Ganga Project agreement?
The Telugu Ganga Project is an inter-state agreement under which Andhra Pradesh supplies Krishna River water to Tamil Nadu to support Chennai's drinking water needs. Tamil Nadu is entitled to 12 TMC ft annually — 8 TMC ft from July to October and 4 TMC ft from January to April.
What is the current water storage level in Chennai's reservoirs?
As of 1 June 2025, Chennai's four major reservoirs collectively hold 7.154 TMC ft of water, representing approximately 54.11% of their total combined storage capacity.
