Hyderabad, Apr 6 (UNI) In a decisive step to bolster Telangana’s legal stand in the ongoing Krishna water-sharing dispute, Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister Capt N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Sunday held a comprehensive review meeting with the State's legal and irrigation teams.
He assured full support from the Telangana Government and announced that he would personally attend the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II (KWDT-II) hearings whenever issues concerning the Krishna or Godavari rivers are taken up.
The high-level meeting was convened at Jala Soudha in Hyderabad and was attended by senior advocates, irrigation department officials, and legal consultants, including Adityanath Das, Advisor to the Telangana Government for the Irrigation Department.
Senior counsel C S Vaidyanathan, who is leading the legal team for Telangana, along with other lawyers, briefed the Minister on the arguments submitted before the Tribunal during the detailed hearings held on April 5 and 6. The team also discussed preparations for the upcoming sessions scheduled for April 15, 16, and 17, an official statement said.
Minister Uttam was apprised of Telangana’s legal stance on Krishna water allocation, with specific data and documentation being used to substantiate the State’s claims.
The legal team outlined how Telangana had been historically shortchanged in Krishna water distribution, and how the 2014 bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh further complicated the matter. Telangana’s case underscores the need for equitable allocation, taking into account its basin area, population, and irrigation needs.
The Minister took an active role in the deliberations, offering strategic insights on the legal and administrative course Telangana should pursue. He emphasised that the dispute was not merely about water allocation but also about justice and the State’s right to sustainable agricultural development. Highlighting decades of neglect faced by Telangana’s farmers, he reiterated the Congress Government’s commitment to rectifying these imbalances.
He also reviewed logistical arrangements for the legal team, coordination with the team stationed in Delhi, and documentation and presentation strategies for the tribunal. He directed officials to ensure continuous support, including real-time data collation, field-level inputs, and legal drafting.
Minister Uttam inquired about related cases and appeals pending before various legal forums and instructed officials to provide him with regular updates. “Whenever the issues of Krishna or Godavari water-sharing arise, I will personally be present to defend Telangana’s rightful claims,” he assured.
Reaffirming the government’s firm resolve under the leadership of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, Uttam declared that no effort would be spared in protecting Telangana’s interests in inter-state water disputes.
He expressed full confidence in the legal and irrigation teams and stressed the importance of unity, diligence, and data-driven advocacy in achieving a fair outcome for the State.
UNI VV BD