Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu called the Tungabhadra water management meeting a historic step towards stronger cooperation among Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka for farmers’ welfare.
Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Patil chaired the meeting in Hospet on Thursday. Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Karnataka Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar also attended.
The leaders reviewed the future of the Tungabhadra project. They also discussed water utilisation and irrigation needs across the three states.
Naidu said political boundaries should never come before farmers’ interests. Therefore, he urged the three governments to work together on river management.
The leaders also inaugurated the newly installed gates at the Tungabhadra Dam. They inaugurated Gate No. 19, which floods washed away in August 2024.
Naidu said Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka jointly replaced 33 gates. The two states spent ₹51 crore on the project. He added that the dam remains a vital source of irrigation and drinking water.
Tungabhadra water management requires coordinated action
Naidu strongly supported the proposed Godavari-Kaveri river link project. He said the project would benefit Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Meanwhile, he urged states to use water resources carefully because reservoir inflows continue to decline. He linked the challenge to changing climate conditions.
Moreover, Naidu said governments should protect farmers through coordinated planning. He added that sustainable water management must remain a shared priority.
Finally, he expressed confidence that continued cooperation would strengthen irrigation, improve water security and support agricultural growth across the region.
