As the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal – II (KWDT-II) prepares for its crucial final hearings, former Chief Minister and Leader of Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has issued a serious warning to the Andhra Pradesh Government, stressing the need to strongly defend the state’s water rights. The dispute over Krishna River allocations has reached a decisive point following the Telangana Government’s demand for 763 TMC of dependable water, a claim that could severely disadvantage Andhra Pradesh if accepted by the tribunal.
Jagan Mohan Reddy emphasised that the tribunal proceedings provide a final opportunity for Andhra Pradesh to present its case with full legal strength and defend the interests of farmers, industries, and millions of citizens who depend on Krishna water for drinking and irrigation needs. He stated that if the government fails to act responsibly, the state may suffer irreversible damage.
A critical stage in interstate resource allocation
The Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal – II is presently reviewing allocation disputes among Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. Telangana has approached the tribunal demanding 763 TMC of dependable water, which represents a substantial shift from previous allocations determined by earlier tribunals including the Bachawat Tribunal.
According to Jagan Mohan Reddy, if this claim is accepted, Andhra Pradesh’s existing share would be drastically reduced, impacting major irrigation projects across Rayalaseema, Nellore, Prakasam, and Krishna delta regions. He warned that AP’s agricultural backbone and water security could collapse if even one TMC is lost unjustly.
He stressed that the government must present clear technical, hydrological, and legal arguments to counter the claims put forward by Telangana and defend AP’s established rights as per historical utilisation and basin contribution.
Jagan Mohan Reddy Blames TDP for Weakening AP’s Case
In his strong remarks, Jagan Mohan Reddy highlighted how previous decisions under the TDP administration weakened Andhra Pradesh’s position in the water dispute. He criticised former CM Nara Chandrababu Naidu for what he described as careless and damaging actions taken during key moments in irrigation policy.
He noted that work on raising the height of the Almatti Dam in Karnataka—from 519.6 meters to 524.25 meters—began when Chandrababu Naidu served both as Chief Minister of united Andhra Pradesh and as convener of the United Front in 1996. At the time, opposition parties and farmers across the state raised strong protests, warning that such developments would undermine Andhra Pradesh’s rights downstream.
Despite widespread objections, Naidu allegedly failed to act or safeguard AP’s interests. This, according to Jagan Mohan Reddy, led to the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal’s decision permitting Karnataka to increase the dam height, causing long-term disadvantage for AP by reducing dependable water flow.
Relinquishing Krishna Water Rights After 2014
Jagan further noted that when the TDP Government came to power in 2014 following the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, it additionally harmed the state by conceding water rights to Telangana during the allocation negotiations. He stated that instead of defending AP’s historic entitlement and utilisation claims, TDP leadership allegedly prioritised political compromises over protecting farmers.
As a result, Andhra Pradesh lost significant negotiating leverage and now faces a more challenging legal position at the tribunal. With the KWDT-II proceedings approaching closure, the responsibility lies on the present state government to correct past damage and secure fair allocation
Call for Responsible Leadership in Critical Times
Jagan Mohan Reddy stressed that the stakes of the current moment are extremely high. He urged the ruling coalition to ensure that the legal team presents data-backed arguments supported by historic hydrology, reservoir performance, command area development, and crop dependency statistics.
He emphasised that every drop of water matters and that losing even 1 TMC from the 512 TMC net allocation granted by the Bachawat Tribunal could set a disastrous precedent.
He demanded full transparency from the government regarding preparations, documentation, expert legal counsel, and the involvement of irrigation and water resource specialists.
