The Telangana Government has launched a focused drive to protect its share of water from the Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy appealed to Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil for a lasting fix to the chronic problems that limit water delivery to Telangana’s farms.
Key Developments
- RDS was designed to serve 83,900 acres of ayacut across 75 villages, but Telangana draws only about 6 tmcft against an allocation of 17.9 tmcft.
- Major causes identified are heavy silt accumulation, changes in river morphology and structural constraints at the canal head.
- The state is exploring supplementary sources such as the Mallammakunta balancing reservoir and the Tummilla Lift Irrigation Scheme to boost water security.
- A high‑level meeting of the three riparian chief ministers (Telangana, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh) with the Union Jal Shakti Minister was held at the Tungabhadra project site to discuss cooperative solutions.
Important Facts
The 2004 expert committee, set up by the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh, recommended removal of silt mounds, restoration of proper gradients, and construction of revetments. It also suggested a retainer wall to stop silting at the RDS source. Technical assessments show that, under certain flow conditions, a significant portion of the river water shifts toward the Andhra Pradesh side, further reducing Telangana’s intake.
Despite Telangana depositing funds for RDS modernisation, downstream works have been delayed, prompting the state to consider dredging and lift‑irrigation options. The lift irrigation approach includes three pump houses (Stage‑I) and three balancing reservoirs (Stage‑II), with the Mallammakunta reservoir targeted for capacity expansion to 5‑6 tmcft, even if additional land acquisition is required.
Exam Relevance
This case illustrates the complexities of inter‑state water sharing in India. It highlights the role of the Central Water Commission and the need for coordinated policy action between state governments and the centre. Understanding such disputes is essential for GS2 (Polity) and GS3 (Economy) topics on water resources, federalism, and sustainable development.
Way Forward
Officials have been directed to draft a comprehensive action plan covering dredging, canal‑head upgrades, modernisation works, and supplementary lift‑irrigation projects. Immediate dredging near the canal head is seen as a practical step to remove silt and improve conveyance during critical irrigation periods. Long‑term measures include strengthening the Tungabhadra board under the CWC to ensure a regulated sharing mechanism and faster desilting.
The overarching goal, as voiced by the chief ministers, is to move beyond political wrangling and secure reliable water delivery for farmers across the three riparian states.