Status: Done
Hyderabad: To strengthen Telangana’s legal position in the Krishna water-sharing dispute, irrigation and civil supplies minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy held an extensive review meeting on Sunday with the legal and irrigation teams. He assured them that the govt would provide all support to the legal team representing the state and asserted that he would personally attend the proceedings of the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II (KWDT-II), whenever the matter comes up for hearing.
The meeting, held at Jala Soudha in Hyderabad, was attended by senior advocates, irrigation officials, and legal consultants, including the advisor to the Telangana govt on irrigation affairs, Adityanath Das. Senior counsel CS Vaidyanathan, who is leading Telangana’s legal team, and other lawyers briefed the minister on the arguments presented before the Tribunal during the detailed sessions held on April 5 and 6. The discussions covered Telangana’s core claims, the current legal status, and preparations for the upcoming hearings scheduled on April 15, 16, and 17.
Uttam was briefed in detail about Telangana’s stance on Krishna water allocation and the data being used to substantiate the state’s claim. The legal team outlined how Telangana was historically deprived of its fair share of Krishna waters and how the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in 2014 further complicated water distribution. The state’s arguments emphasised the need for equitable and just allocation, considering the basin area, population, and existing irrigation potential of Telangana.
The minister actively led the deliberations and offered key insights on the legal and administrative approach Telangana should adopt. He also discussed broader strategic directions to be pursued during the hearings, including the assertion of Telangana’s rights based on legal, constitutional, and technical grounds.
Uttam highlighted that Telangana’s case is not just about statistics but also about justice and the state’s right to develop its irrigation infrastructure without facing arbitrary constraints. He pointed out that Telangana’s farmers and irrigation-dependent regions suffered for decades due to skewed water allocations and said the current Congress govt was committed to correcting these imbalances.
The minister also reviewed logistical arrangements, coordination with the team stationed in Delhi, and the upcoming documentation and presentations required before KWDT-II. He directed officials to ensure seamless support for the legal team and the tribunal work, including data collation, on-ground inputs, and legal drafting.
He enquired about the status of related cases and appeals pending in various legal forums and instructed the department to keep him regularly updated. “Whenever the issues of Krishna or Godavari water-sharing come up, I will present myself to defend Telangana’s rightful claims,” he assured the legal and irrigation teams.
Uttam reiterated that the Telangana govt, under the leadership of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, would leave no stone unturned in safeguarding the state’s interests in inter-state water disputes. He expressed confidence in the legal team and officials and underlined the importance of unity, diligence, and data-backed arguments in achieving a just outcome for Telangana.