Historic Tungabhadra Meet Brings Telangana, AP and Karnataka CMs Together

In a significant step towards improving interstate cooperation on water management, the Chief Ministers of Telangana , Andhra Pradesh , and Karnataka came together at the Tungabhadra Dam on Friday to inaugurate the 33 newly restored crest gates and discuss long-pending irrigation and water-sharing issues. The meeting, held in the presence of Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil , underscored a shared commitment to protecting farmers' interests through dialogue rather than political confrontation.

The event brought together Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy , Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu , Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar , senior ministers and officials. The restoration of all 33 crest gates marks the completion of a major rehabilitation exercise undertaken after Gate No. 19 was washed away during the 2024 floods , an incident that raised concerns over the safety and efficiency of the decades-old reservoir.

Addressing the gathering, Revanth Reddy said the three states had set aside political differences to work collectively for the welfare of farmers. He expressed confidence that the discussions would pave the way for a lasting solution to disputes involving the Krishna, Godavari and Tungabhadra rivers .

The Telangana Chief Minister highlighted the long-pending issue of the Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme (RDS) , noting that Telangana is entitled to 15.9 TMC of water but is currently able to utilize only about 5 TMC . He attributed the shortfall to heavy silt accumulation , ageing infrastructure and operational bottlenecks, which have deprived farmers in Gadwal , Alampur , and Palamuru of their rightful share. He urged the Centre to ensure that Telangana receives its full allocation without further delay.

Revanth Reddy said valuable water from the Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers continues to flow into the sea due to poor coordination among states, stressing that every drop should be conserved for agriculture. He also recalled that the Tungabhadra project was built through cooperation between the former Mysore Kingdom and the Hyderabad State , calling it an example for present-day governments to resolve interstate issues through consensus.

Speaking at the event, Chandrababu Naidu described the gathering of the three Chief Ministers as a historic milestone. He said the Tungabhadra Project remains a lifeline for millions by supplying irrigation and drinking water across the region. Referring to the successful restoration of the dam after the 2024 gate failure , he said the joint efforts of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka had strengthened the project's long-term safety and reliability.

Naidu also renewed his call for river interlinking , describing it as essential for India's future water security. Citing the Ken-Betwa River Linking Project , he advocated connecting the Godavari and Cauvery rivers to benefit southern states. He warned that the impact of El Niño has reduced inflows into the Tungabhadra and Almatti reservoirs, making coordinated water conservation and efficient reservoir management more important than ever.

The leaders agreed that sustained cooperation among the Centre and the states would be crucial for improving dam safety , desilting operations , water-sharing mechanisms , and irrigation planning. The meeting is widely seen as a positive step towards building a collaborative framework for resolving interstate river disputes while safeguarding the livelihoods of millions of farmers dependent on the Tungabhadra basin .