Fair Allocation of Krishna Water

Context:

During a meeting with the Union Jal Shakti Minister, the Chief Minister of Telangana emphasized the need for the central government to ensure a fair allocation of Krishna River water to the state.

Krishna River Water Dispute: Telangana’s Concerns and Demands

• Present Allocation: KRMB allocated 66% water to Andhra Pradesh and 34% to Telangana.
• Fair Allocation:
  • Telangana demands 70% of Krishna River water, aligning with the river’s 70% basin located in the State (only 30% in Andhra Pradesh).
  • Irrigation project decisions in Andhra Pradesh should factor in Telangana’s net water share of the Godavari River.
• Monitor Utilization:
  • Install telemetry machines to monitor water usage from Krishna River projects.
• Expedite Permissions:
  • Seek permissions from the Central Water Commission (CWC) and Technical Advisory Council (TAC) for:
    • Palamuru-Ranga Reddy lift scheme
    • Sitarama lift
    • Sammakka Sagar barrage
• Financial Assistance:
  • Ensure support for irrigation projects under:
    • Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP)
    • PMRP 2024
  • Provide interest-free loans to Telangana for 50 years to fund irrigation projects.
• Central Support:
  • Request Union support for the construction of the Pranahita-Chevella project at Tummidihetti.

Krishna River: Key Facts

• Third-longest in India after the Ganga and Godavari.
• Fourth-largest in terms of water inflows and river basin area.
• Origin: Starts in the Western Ghats at an elevation of 1337 m, north of Mahabaleshwar hills in Maharashtra.
• Basin Area: Covers 258,948 sq km, accounting for nearly 8% of India’s geographical area.
• River Basin States: Karnataka > Telangana and Andhra Pradesh > Maharashtra
• 13 major tributaries such as Ghataprabha, Malaprabha, Bhima, Panchganga, Tungabhadra, Musi.
• Highest Point: Mullayanagiri peak in Karnataka (altitude: 1,930 m).
• Major wildlife and protected areas in the basin:
  • Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve
  • Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Ghataprabha Bird Sanctuary
  • Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary
  • Kudremukh National Park

Source: The Hindu

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Previous Year Question

Which of the following is/are tributary/tributaries of Brahmaputra?
1. Dibang
2. Kameng
3. Lohit
Select the correct answer using the code given below

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2016 Prelims]

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (d)

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