Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has responded positively to a request from Telangana ministers Vakiti Srihari and Jupally Krishna Rao to release water to the Jurala project, offering crucial relief to farmers in southern Telangana. During two rounds of discussions held yesterday evening and this morning, the ministers briefed the Karnataka Chief Minister on the severe drought conditions linked to El Niño, dropping water levels at Jurala, and the plight of ayacut farmers facing irrigation shortages.
Chief Minister Shivakumar directed Karnataka Irrigation Minister N. Chaluvarayaswamy and Chief Secretary Dr. Shalini Rajneesh to expedite the release of water to assist Telangana, despite existing water constraints within Karnataka. He assured a ten-day release schedule through the Warabandi rotation system.
The initiative follows a formal request sent on September 20 by Telangana Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy under the directions of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy. Continuous dialogue between the two state governments successfully paved the way for the agreement. Expressing gratitude to the Karnataka leadership and officials, the Telangana ministers reassured farmers under the Jurala, Bhima, Nettempadu, and Koilsagar projects that the government is fully committed to safeguarding their agricultural and drinking water needs.
A comprehensive meeting with ministers, legislators, and irrigation officials from the combined Mahabubnagar district is scheduled for tomorrow. The session will focus on formulating a strategic plan for the optimal distribution and management of the available water resources across the region to ensure farmers suffer no further disruption.
