Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has sought additional drinking water for Chennai from Andhra Pradesh, with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu assuring him that the request would be considered based on water availability and requirements.
The two Chief Ministers discussed Chennai’s drinking water needs and the proposed Godavari–Cauvery river-linking project during a meeting at Naidu’s camp office in Amaravati on Tuesday.
Naidu and Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh welcomed Vijay, who was visiting Vijayawada to participate in Vijayawada Utsav.
According to the Andhra Pradesh government, the state has already released 4.08 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) of water to Chennai through the Telugu Ganga project.
Naidu said Andhra Pradesh remained committed to meeting Chennai’s drinking water requirements despite reduced inflows into the Krishna river due to the impact of El Niño this year, which has contributed to severe water scarcity.
He added that the state would examine the possibility of releasing additional water, taking into account availability and the requirements of Chennai.
Godavari–Cauvery link discussed
The meeting also focused on the proposed Godavari–Cauvery river-linking project, with Naidu explaining its importance as a long-term solution to drought and water shortages.
River interlinking has been proposed as a means of transferring water from surplus river basins to water-deficit regions. The Godavari–Cauvery link is intended to improve water availability in parts of southern India, although its implementation would involve substantial infrastructure, financial and inter-state coordination requirements.
For Tamil Nadu, the availability of dependable water supplies remains a critical issue, particularly for Chennai, whose drinking water needs depend on a combination of reservoirs, river-water transfers and other sources.
The meeting brings the issue of inter-state water cooperation into focus, with immediate concerns over Chennai’s drinking water supply running alongside discussions on longer-term solutions to recurring water shortages.
The additional release of water from Andhra Pradesh will depend on the state’s available resources, while the proposed river-linking initiative would require further coordination between the states concerned.