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TRS Launches Mass-Movement to Secure Telangana's Fair Share of River Water

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  Published in Politics and Government on Monday, December 15th 2025 at 20:01 GMT by Deccan Herald

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Chandrashekhar Rao to Mobilise Telangana for a Fair Share of River Water and Irrigation Resources

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For months, the people of Telangana have been grappling with chronic water shortages that ripple across villages, cities, and farms alike. The state’s leaders, most notably Chief Minister N. Chandrashekhar Rao, have been pressed to find a concrete solution. In a bold new move announced on the sidelines of a public gathering in Hyderabad, Rao declared that the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) will launch a mass‑movement campaign to secure a more equitable allocation of water from shared rivers and accelerate irrigation projects across the state.

1. The Core of the Water Crisis

Telangana lies on the banks of several major rivers—most notably the Krishna, Godavari, and Penna—whose waters are shared among eight Indian states: Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Odisha, and the union territory of Lakshadweep. Over the last decade, the state’s agricultural and industrial growth has put unprecedented pressure on these resources.

• Upstream Diversions: Maharashtra’s Koyna and Bhima irrigation projects, and Karnataka’s Nagarjuni and Tungabhadra projects, divert significant volumes of water that would otherwise flow into Telangana’s Krishna basin. The state’s share has been steadily shrinking, particularly during dry seasons.
• Irrigation Deficits: Telangana’s long‑term development plan includes a 2,200 km water network to serve 14 million hectares of land. Yet, many districts still suffer from irregular canal flows, and the state’s 11 major irrigation projects are far from operational.
• Legal and Policy Hurdles: While the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, and the subsequent Water Sharing Act provided a legal framework for water division, implementation has lagged. Telangana has filed multiple petitions before the Supreme Court, but no binding decision has yet materialised.

These circumstances have led to frequent protests by farmers, fishermen, and urban residents alike, many of whom fear that the state's long‑term food security and economic prosperity could be jeopardised.

2. The Mass‑Movement Strategy

In the televised address, Chandrashekhar Rao outlined a comprehensive, multi‑phase plan that leverages public participation, legal recourse, and coordinated political action:

Rao emphasised that the movement would be “peaceful but determined,” urging citizens to engage through lawful avenues such as petitions, public hearings, and participation in local councils. He also pledged that the TRS would allocate an additional 3 billion rupees to expedite construction of canals and check dams in the coming fiscal year.

3. Anticipated Outcomes

The Chief Minister’s primary demand is a re‑allocation of water that reflects Telangana’s increased share in the Krishna basin. The proposed allocation, if realised, would increase the state’s share from 9 percent to about 14 percent—a 55 million acre‑feet jump that could revamp agriculture, reduce irrigation deficits, and bolster irrigation coverage.

Additional expected benefits include:

• Enhanced Canal Reliability: Regular water flow would enable the planned irrigation projects—such as the 1,200‑km “Kakatiya Canal” and the 450‑km “Yellandu‑Nizamabad” corridor—to deliver on their promises.
• Urban Water Security: Hyderabad’s municipal water supply would see less pressure on the Musi River, allowing more resources to be directed toward new treatment plants.
• Economic Growth: More dependable irrigation would lift crop yields, improve farmers’ incomes, and stimulate ancillary sectors such as agro‑processing and rural tourism.

4. Reactions from Stakeholders

• Farmers’ Organisations: The Telangana Farmers’ Federation applauded the move, urging the movement to maintain momentum. Some smaller groups, however, expressed concern that mass mobilisations could clash with neighboring states’ plans.
• Political Opponents: The opposition Telangana Jana Sena Party (TJP) criticised the TRS for delaying the issue for years. “It’s a political stunt,” they alleged, though they also acknowledged the urgency of water reforms.
• Civil‑Society Groups: Environmental NGOs have called for a more comprehensive water‑management approach that balances agriculture, ecology, and industrial demand.

5. The Broader Context

Chandrashekhar Rao’s announcement is not an isolated event. The state has a history of water‑related activism: the “Ganga Jal” movement in 2012, the “Krishna Flood” protests in 2015, and the “Water for All” campaign in 2020—all aimed at securing Telangana’s rightful share of shared rivers. Additionally, the Supreme Court’s recent ruling in the Andhra Pradesh‑Karnataka–Maharashtra water dispute, which recognised the state’s water rights but left the distribution formula unresolved, has set a new legal precedent.

In this backdrop, the mass‑movement strategy represents a blend of political will and grassroots activism—a testament to the TRS’s attempt to align governmental policy with the aspirations of its constituents.

6. Looking Ahead

If the mass‑movement gains traction, it could force the other states to renegotiate the status quo and prompt the central government to re‑examine the 1985 River Water Disputes Act’s guidelines. The TRS will also need to maintain transparency in budget allocations and progress reporting to sustain public trust.

Ultimately, the success of Chandrashekhar Rao’s campaign will hinge on the ability to transform public mobilisation into measurable policy outcomes. If achieved, it could serve as a blueprint for other Indian states grappling with shared water resources, turning a decades‑old water crisis into an opportunity for regional cooperation and sustainable development.

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