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Telangana and Karnataka are moving ahead with a joint proposal to construct a barrage downstream of the Narayanapura Dam on River Krishna, in an attempt at inter-state cooperation in a region long marked by water-sharing disputes.

The proposal was discussed during a high-level meeting in Hyderabad on Monday (May 25) between Telangana Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, Karnataka Minor Irrigation Minister NS Boseraju and other senior leaders from both states, according to media reports.

Also read: Karnataka’s water battles: State tussles with 17 inter-state river disputes before courts

Telangana officials also made a detailed presentation outlining the project’s technical and economic feasibility.

Possible sites

Telangana has reportedly identified three possible sites downstream of the Narayanapura spillway — near Shaktinagar bridge, Ganjapalli village and Koratakunda village.

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Telangana officials stressed that the structure would not interfere with upstream projects, including the Gurjapur barrage located 10-15 km away with an FRL of 336 metres.

Drinking water supply

According to the proposal, the barrage would help store excess monsoon flows that currently go unutilised downstream. It is also expected to ensure an uninterrupted drinking water supply to villages in the region and support critical infrastructure such as the Raichur Thermal Power Station.

The proposed barrage is aimed at addressing drinking water shortages in nearby villages while also supporting existing lift irrigation schemes in both states.

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The project marks a notable shift in the politics surrounding the Krishna river, which has historically been the centre of intense interstate disputes involving Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra.

Krishna water dispute

The Krishna river water dispute, often called the “Krishna water wars”, has persisted for decades because the river depends heavily on seasonal monsoon rainfall. Competing demands for irrigation, drinking water and hydropower have repeatedly triggered political and legal battles between the riparian states.

The conflict became more complicated after the creation of Telangana in 2014. The undivided Andhra Pradesh’s allocation of 811 tmcft had to be divided between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh under a temporary arrangement.

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Telangana has since demanded a revised allocation, arguing that its drought-prone regions were historically neglected.

Collaborative approach

Operational disputes over key structures such as the Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar dams have frequently escalated tensions between the two Telugu states.

Against that backdrop, the proposed Telangana-Karnataka barrage represents a more collaborative approach, focusing on jointly building infrastructure to capture excess water instead of fighting over allocations alone.

Also read: On World Water Day, a look at India’s key inter-state river disputes

Telangana minister Uttam Kumar Reddy described the discussions with Karnataka as “positive”, saying both governments were working toward protecting mutual interests and ensuring long-term water security for people in both states, Times of India reported.