Many rivers flow through the Nalgonda district. The main rivers are the Krishna, Musi, Aleru, Dindi, Konegal, Pedavagu and Halia. Krishna flowing from south border is an important river. It enters Nalgonda district and flows 85kms towards east. Pedavagu and Dindi Rivers flow through Devarakonda Taluq and join Krishna river. Halia river starts from the hills on the west of Narayanpur and flows 132 kms southeast and joins the Krishna along with Konagal River at Konagal village.

The total irrigated areas in hectares are presently 1,53,000 as against 1,33,000 in the year 1956-57.

ICHAMPALLY PROJECT: This is an Interstate multipurpose project across Godavari between Andhra Pradesh, Maharastra and Chattisgadh state. The project is envisaged to irrigate 157,000 acres in Kaharif and 173,000 acres in rabi in Karimnagar, Warangal and Khammam districts, under Godavari basin, utilizing 85 TMC of water from the joint grid.

The estimated cost of the project is about 4520 crores. The governments involved in this project have submitted their reports to the Prime Minister to treat this project as National project and to sanction the require funds for execution of this project. The central government had constituted a high level committee in July 2000.

The foundation of this project was laid as early as in 1969, but the project is still in a pending state. Although the Central Government has given it's clearance years back, the State Government has taken initiative to resolve any issues with other governments. It appears that the State Government is not keen for implementing this project as this has been pending for last 30 years. When a bigger Interstate dispute of Cavery waters can amicably be resolved, this dispute could have been resolved.

FLOOD FLOW CANAL: This project was envisaged for utilization of 20 TMC of water to irrigate 2.20 lakh acres in Karimnagar, Warangal and Nalgonda Districts. The CWC has given clearance in 1996 for Rs.1333 crores.

SCOPE:

(1)   44.30 km long canal across PEDDA VAGU II and Konraopet in Karimnagar District to irrigate 32,000 acres.

(2)   66 km length canal from reservoir up to storage reservoir to irrigate 68,000 acres across Coratla Vagu and Manair river in Karimnagar.

(3) 125 km long canal to irrigate 1.20 lakhs acres, at Gowravalli in Karimanagar distirct.

Proposal for Mid Maneru project was submitted for 175 acres, but there is no further development. The major issue is the rate of compensation, which has yet to be resolved with affected farmers. The government keeps pending the entire project.

The government wants to implement the execution of work in two stages

The total cost is worked out to be Rs. 2100 crores for acquiring 2780 acres of land in Nizamabad and 2500 acres of Karimnagar District.

The project is subject to clearance by forest department, tribal welfare, and investment clearance from planning commission. It is stated by the govt. of Andhra Pradesh, that proposals for the above clearance are being sent for the funding the project. Detailed project reports are still under preparation by the government. So far nothing is done on field.

To resolve the land acquisition dispute, district Lok Adalaths have been formed for Nizamabad District and Karimnagar district. No settlement has been reached.

Nagarjunsagar Project: Nagarjuna Sagar project was taken up as a joint project between the then Andhra State and the then Hyderabad State in 1954. On the basis of the agreement the project was to be jointly executed with left canal to serve 7.95 lakh acres in Nalgonda and Khammam districts with 161 TMC feet of water as its share. Around 2 lakh acres of lands in Andhra State limits were also to be served from the left canal. This joint project report was protected under section 108 (2a) of S.R. Act.

With the reorganization of states and the merging of Telangana with Andhra, the Andhra State became sole authority to execute the project. The bed levels of left main canal were indiscriminately dropped. It was made to pass through existing minor and medium tanks by dropping the bed level of canal and picked up at a lower level. With the result the identified ayacut in Nalgonda and Khammam districts was reduced from 7.95 lakhs acres to 5.30 lakh acres including existing ayacut of around 50,000 acres under Paleru Project and other minor irrigation sources. On the other hand the ayacut in Andhra region under left canal was increased from the originally contemplated ayacut of 2.05 lakh acres to 3.78 lakh acres.

As a result of this manipulation in the ayacut of left canal, the ayacut in Telangana utilizes only 86 TMC feet of water including around 6 TMC feet of water for independent yield of Paleru project, Devulapally and other minor tanks. The Nagarjuna sagar supplies only 80 TMC feet of water to Telangana ayacut under left canal, against its entitlement of 161 TMC feet of water, under 1954 agreement.

This is a violation of 1954 agreement and violation of the rights of Telangana Protected under section 108(2) (a) of SR act. The left canal alignment is manipulated so badly that it is not possible to make available the balance water from left canal.

After power generation, water from Srisailam reservoir flows to Nagarjuna Sagar project. The balance water from left canal quota of Nagarjuna Sagar is 127 TMC feet of water. The 127 TMC feet of water has to be supplied from Srisailam reservoir through a tunnel to irrigate areas in Nalgonda and Khammam districts.

The project under the left bank canal utilizing 30 TMC feet of water under Bheema lift irrigation is still not implemented. In addition to the existing deprivations, the Government of Andhra Pradesh is seriously contemplating to bring Krishna waters to Hyderabad city, which will further deplete the water available for irrigation in Telangana region.

Srisailam Left Bank Canal: Left canal runs for a length of 178 kilometers to irrigate 419,820 acres in Nalgonda, Khammam, Krishna and west Godavari.

Srisailam Left Bank Canal is the third project of Telangana on Krishna that became a victim of Andhra Pradesh government maneuvering.

Krishna water dispute tribunal allocated 800 TMC feet of water to Andhra Pradesh State. The three state governments, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharastra, put forward further demands against possible surplus flows over and above agreed. The Tribunal allowed Andhra Pradesh to build up surplus capacities to store water and utilize it with out any specific right over the other states of Karnataka and Maharastra.