Srisailam Reservoir Water Levels Decline Due to Inflow Deficit
Source:deccanchronicle ↗
Why It Matters
Crucial for APPSC aspirants tracking state geography, irrigation infrastructure, reservoir storage capacities, and river board management frameworks under the AP Reorganisation Act.
Summary
The article reports on the falling water levels at the Srisailam reservoir due to receding inflows, highlighting regional water management challenges, inter-state sharing dynamics between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, and the regulatory role of the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB).
Key Points
- Water levels in the Srisailam reservoir on the Krishna River are rapidly declining due to a lack of fresh inflows.
- Srisailam is a crucial joint project serving irrigation and hydel power generation needs for both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
- The Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) oversees water sharing and reservoir management between the two states under the provisions of the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014.
Important Terms
Krishna River Management Board (KRMB)
An autonomous statutory body established under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, to regulate and manage water distribution, reservoir operations, and river management within the Krishna river basin for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
UPSC context
Important for GS Paper II (Polity/Federalism) and GS Paper III (Water Resources Management, Inter-state water disputes).
Apex Council
A high-level institutional mechanism chaired by the Union Minister of Jal Shakti with the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana as members, created under the 2014 Act to supervise river boards and resolve water-sharing disputes.
UPSC context
Tested in APPSC and UPSC exams regarding inter-state council mechanisms, cooperative federalism, and resolution of regional water conflicts.
Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014
Landmark 2014 legislation enacted by Parliament that bifurcated the erstwhile State of Andhra Pradesh into Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, providing specific frameworks for asset division, resource sharing, and river boards.
UPSC context
Crucial for APPSC Group-1/2 exams (Andhra Pradesh History, Polity, and Geography) and UPSC Indian Polity regarding state reorganisation.
Static Concepts Connected
What is the institutional framework for sharing waters of the Krishna River between AP and Telangana?
- Statutory Body: Under Section 87 of the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, the KRMB was constituted under the administrative control of the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti.
- Apex Council: Comprises an Apex Council headed by the Union Minister of Water Resources and Chief Ministers of AP and Telangana to supervise KRMB.
- Functions: Regulates water release for irrigation, power generation, and drinking water from common reservoirs like Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar.
Cross-Topic Patterns
Krishna Basin & AP Reorganisation Act Federalism
Inter-state water disputes over the Krishna basin involve statutory boards like KRMB set up under the 2014 Act, which must be studied alongside federalism and article 262 provisions.
Srisailam reservoir management, KRMB jurisdiction, and Krishna water-sharing disputes are perennial high-yield areas for APPSC.
Linked PYQs · 2
Linked PYQs · 2
- 2023APPSC_PRELIMSGS1
Apex Council of Godavari and Krishna river water resources and their management consists of
- 2024APPSC_PRELIMSGS1
Within India, Ganga river basin has the largest catchment area. After that, following is the correct sequence in the decreasing order:
