Vijay seeks more Krishna water for Chennai as Naidu promises to consider 'request'

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Tuesday met his Andhra Pradesh counterpart N Chandrababu Naidu and sought the release of additional Krishna river water to meet Chennai's drinking water requirements, as the two states discussed water-sharing arrangements and long-term river-linking projects.

The meeting took place at Naidu's residence in Undavalli in Guntur district during Vijay's visit to Andhra Pradesh. The discussions focused on the Telugu Ganga Project, which supplies Krishna river water to Chennai, and the proposed Godavari-Cauvery river-linking initiative aimed at addressing recurring water shortages in southern India.

Naidu assured Vijay that Andhra Pradesh would consider releasing additional water after assessing availability and the requirements of both states. He maintained that his government remained committed to supporting Chennai's drinking water needs despite reduced inflows into the Krishna river system and water scarcity within Andhra Pradesh.

𝗩𝗶𝗷𝗮𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿

According to an official statement, Vijay requested the Andhra Pradesh government to release additional drinking water through the Telugu Ganga Project, highlighting Chennai's dependence on supplies from the Krishna river system. The request comes amid concerns over the quantity of water received by Tamil Nadu under the interstate arrangement.

Responding to the request, Naidu said his government would examine the availability of water before deciding on further releases. He pointed out that Andhra Pradesh was itself facing difficult conditions because of reduced Krishna river inflows associated with the impact of El Niño.

The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister said his government had already supplied 4.08 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) of water to Chennai this year. He emphasised that the state would continue supporting its neighbour while balancing the drinking water, agricultural and other requirements of its own population.

𝗧𝗲𝗹𝘂𝗴𝘂 𝗚𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀

The Telugu Ganga Project is an important interstate water supply arrangement designed to provide Krishna river water to Chennai. Under the agreement, Andhra Pradesh is required to supply 12 TMC of water annually to Tamil Nadu at the interstate border, with eight TMC scheduled between July and October and the remaining four TMC between January and April.

The water is conveyed through a network of reservoirs and canals, including the Kandaleru reservoir in Andhra Pradesh, before reaching Tamil Nadu's drinking water infrastructure. The project plays an important role in supplementing Chennai's water resources, particularly during periods of inadequate rainfall and reduced storage in local reservoirs.

Tamil Nadu has raised concerns over shortfalls in the quantity of Krishna water reaching the state. Reports ahead of Tuesday's meeting indicated that the state had received approximately 2.251 TMC as of October 9, substantially below the annual allocation. Andhra Pradesh's latest figure of 4.08 TMC represents water it says it has released, and the two figures should not be treated as directly comparable without reconciling their measurement points and reporting periods.

𝗡𝗮𝗶𝗱𝘂 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗚𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗿𝗶-𝗖𝗮𝘂𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴

The two Chief Ministers also discussed the proposed Godavari-Cauvery river-linking project, which seeks to transfer water between major river basins to improve water availability in drought-prone regions. Naidu described the initiative as a potential permanent solution to recurring water scarcity and emphasised the importance of cooperation between southern states.

Naidu said closer coordination among state governments, supported by the Centre, would be essential to advancing the project. He argued that river-linking initiatives could improve water security, support agricultural production and benefit millions of farmers across southern India.

The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister also stressed that water should become a source of cooperation rather than conflict between neighbouring states. He said the governments must work together to balance competing requirements while developing long-term solutions to recurring shortages.

Vijay has also been advocating faster implementation of the Godavari-Cauvery river-linking proposal. During a recent engagement in Chennai, he urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to expedite the necessary clearances and funding for the project, highlighting its potential benefits for agriculture and long-term water security.

𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱

Apart from the immediate drinking water requirements of Chennai, the two leaders and accompanying officials discussed several issues of mutual interest. The meeting reflected efforts to strengthen cooperation between Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh on shared water resources and infrastructure development.

During his visit to Andhra Pradesh, Vijay also visited the Kanaka Durga Temple in Vijayawada, where he offered prayers and was accorded traditional honours. His programme included participation in events associated with Vijayawada Utsav 2.0.

The discussions assume significance as southern states face the challenge of managing growing urban water demand alongside agricultural requirements and fluctuating river inflows. Chennai's dependence on interstate supplies has made the timely release of Krishna water an important issue for Tamil Nadu.

While Naidu has expressed willingness to consider additional releases, no specific quantity or schedule for further supplies was announced following the meeting. Any subsequent decision will depend on an assessment of water availability and the requirements of Andhra Pradesh.

The meeting nevertheless established a basis for continued discussions on immediate water supplies and longer-term river-linking proposals, with both governments emphasising the need for cooperation in managing shared water resources.