(Image source from: Deccanchronicle.com)

Another water battle between AP and Telangana:- After the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, there are several issues that are left unresolved. The Centre intervened in some of them but a possible solution for most of them are yet to make ways. After several water distribution issues between the Telugu states are yet to be sorted, one more water row erupted between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The government of Telangana is quite serious on Andhra Pradesh about launching works for the construction of a canal in Kurnool district's Rajolibanda village. The canal is constructed in parallel to the existing Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme (RDS) for additional water. The AP government initiated the process of construction without any approvals from the government agencies.

Several complaints from the public representatives and farmers reached Telangana Chief Minister KCR. The Irrigation Department officials met KCR and discussed about the issue recently. KCR directed the officials to lodge a complaint with the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB), the Central Water Commission (CWC) and the Apex Council of the Union ministry of Jal Shakti. Telangana government wants Andhra Pradesh to suspend these works immediately. Due to the leakages, Telangana is just getting five tmc of water out of the 16 tmc through RDS. RDS is located on the Tungabhadra river and is spread across Kurnool (Andhra Pradesh) and Gadwal (Telangana). RDS irrigates 87,000 acres of Telangana and 4000 acres in Andhra Pradesh.

RDS is one of the major issues which were not properly addressed as per the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014. Telangana government says that the state is waiting for their share of water to be distributed through RDS.