BRS Leader Alleges Telangana Compromising Water Rights on Tungabhadra

Former Minister and BRS Deputy Floor Leader T. Harish Rao on Wednesday accused the Telangana government of adopting a 'compromising approach' towards Karnataka's construction of barrages and flood lift schemes on the Tungabhadra river. In a letter to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, Rao claimed that these projects could adversely affect Telangana's Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme (RDS), Tummilla, and Bhima projects.

Rao expressed concern over Karnataka's proposed and ongoing projects, including the Kuridi (2 TMC), Chikkalaparvi (2.5 TMC), and Chikkalamanchi (5 TMC) bridge-cum-barrages. He questioned whether Telangana's water rights were used as a bargaining tool to secure a no-objection certificate (NOC) from Karnataka for the Kodangal Lift Irrigation Scheme.

The BRS leader sought details about the circumstances under which Karnataka issued an NOC for the Kodangal Lift project on July 18, 2025. He alleged that the Telangana government had failed to raise objections to Karnataka's projects for nearly a year. 'Who gave the government the authority to mortgage Telangana's water rights?' Rao asked.

Rao further alleged that Karnataka was constructing a flood lift scheme in Raichur district at a cost of ₹85 crore to divert 2 TMC of water from the Tungabhadra without obtaining mandatory approvals from the Central Water Commission (CWC), Krishna River Management Board (KRMB), and the governments of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

He demanded that the Telangana government immediately lodge official objections with the CWC, KRMB, and the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti against Karnataka's projects. Rao urged strict implementation of the Bachawat Tribunal award, which governs Tungabhadra water utilisation, and suggested moving the Supreme Court if necessary to safeguard Telangana's interests.

Additionally, Rao alleged that the government had weakened the Bhima project by diverting around 7 TMC out of its allocated 16.94 TMC to the proposed Kodangal Lift Irrigation Scheme, affecting irrigation potential over two lakh acres.

The Tungabhadra river, a tributary of the Krishna, has been a source of inter-state water disputes. The Bachawat Tribunal award, finalised in 1976, allocates water among Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. The Telangana government has not yet responded to Rao's allegations.