📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Avsnarayan
Politics
Andhra Pradesh, Telangana dispute Nagarjuna Sagar releases as KRMB defers decision
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 27 Aug 2026, 02:03 AM
👁 2
The Andhra Pradesh and Telangana governments are at odds over water releases from the Nagarjuna Sagar reservoir, while the Karnataka River Management Board has postponed its ruling on the inter‑state sharing plan.
The state governments of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have entered a fresh standoff over how much water should be let out of the Nagarjuna Sagar reservoir. Both sides accuse each other of either withholding or over‑releasing water, a move that could affect downstream irrigation and drinking supplies.
Nagarjuna Sagar, one of the largest dams on the Krishna River, has long been a flashpoint in inter‑state water negotiations. While earlier accords set provisional release volumes, the two states now differ on the current requirements, each citing agricultural and civic needs.
The Karnataka River Management Board (KRMB), the body tasked with adjudicating water‑sharing disputes among the basin states, announced that it will defer any final decision on the matter. The board said additional data and consultations are needed before a ruling can be issued.
Officials from both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana said they remain committed to dialogue and will seek a mutually acceptable arrangement, even as the KRMB’s postponement adds uncertainty to the water‑distribution schedule.
The delay could have short‑term repercussions for farmers in the delta regions of both states, who rely on timely releases for sowing and crop irrigation, and may also influence power generation at the dam’s hydro‑electric units.
Nagarjuna Sagar, one of the largest dams on the Krishna River, has long been a flashpoint in inter‑state water negotiations. While earlier accords set provisional release volumes, the two states now differ on the current requirements, each citing agricultural and civic needs.
The Karnataka River Management Board (KRMB), the body tasked with adjudicating water‑sharing disputes among the basin states, announced that it will defer any final decision on the matter. The board said additional data and consultations are needed before a ruling can be issued.
Officials from both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana said they remain committed to dialogue and will seek a mutually acceptable arrangement, even as the KRMB’s postponement adds uncertainty to the water‑distribution schedule.
The delay could have short‑term repercussions for farmers in the delta regions of both states, who rely on timely releases for sowing and crop irrigation, and may also influence power generation at the dam’s hydro‑electric units.