Telangana Govt Prepares Agenda for Jal Shakti Talks on Inter-State Water Disputes

Focus on Krishna River Issues

The Telangana government has begun preparatory work for discussions with the Union Jal Shakti Ministry to address long-pending inter-State water disputes between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The exercise is focused on finalising agenda items for the proposed talks, with a clear decision to confine discussions strictly to issues related to the Krishna river waters.

Senior officials said internal deliberations are underway to ensure that the agenda reflects only matters requiring immediate resolution within the scope of the Krishna basin. The state government has chosen to avoid expanding the agenda to other river systems at this stage.

Expert Committee Meeting on January 30

The discussions are linked to the first meeting of a special expert committee constituted by the Centre to examine water management disputes between the two Telugu states. The 15-member committee is headed by Central Water Commission Chairman Anupam Prasad and includes senior officials from both states as well as representatives of key central agencies.

The committee is scheduled to meet on January 30 at the Central Water Commission office located at Sewa Bhavan in New Delhi. This will be the committee’s inaugural sitting since its formation.

Centre Seeks Submission of Disputed Issues

Ahead of the meeting, the Centre has advised both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to submit a list of contentious and unresolved issues related to water management for discussion before the committee. These submissions are expected to form the basis of deliberations during the meeting.

In response, the Telangana government has initiated consultations with senior irrigation department officials to identify and prioritise issues that require placement before the committee. Officials are said to be examining each proposed agenda point carefully to ensure clarity and relevance.

Administrative Caution in Agenda Finalisation

Government sources indicated that the process of agenda selection is being handled with caution, given the sensitivity of inter-State water sharing matters. The emphasis remains on presenting well-defined issues that can be examined within the committee’s mandate.

The upcoming meeting is expected to set the tone for future discussions on Krishna River water management between the two states. Related concerns over river water allocation and inter-State disagreements have featured in earlier debates, including Telangana’s opposition to Andhra Pradesh’s Godavari water diversion plans, detailed in a previous report on the issue: Telangana Rejects AP’s Godavari Water Diversion Proposal.

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