Under the Telugu Ganga arrangement, Andhra Pradesh is to deliver 12 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) of Krishna river water a year to Chennai for drinking. By 9 October 2026, Tamil Nadu had received only about 2.25 TMC this water year, according to figures reported by The South First. Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay met Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu in Vijayawada on 13 October to ask for more water. Andhra Pradesh agreed to release Krishna water to Chennai over the next two months, DT Next reported, though no quantity was made public.
The meeting came as Chennai’s five main reservoirs held about 35% of their storage capacity, according to the same DT Next report. The northeast monsoon set in over Tamil Nadu on 15 October, so rain may also refill the lakes in the coming weeks.
How the Telugu Ganga arrangement works
Telugu Ganga is an inter-state drinking water scheme. Andhra Pradesh releases Krishna water into a long canal system, and Tamil Nadu is meant to receive 12 TMC a year at its border, in two seasonal instalments. Tamil Nadu has historically shared the cost of building and maintaining the canals, and payment and canal upkeep have come up repeatedly in talks between the two states.
The water is stored in Andhra Pradesh reservoirs, chiefly Kandaleru, before it is released into the canal. It crosses into Tamil Nadu at a measuring point known as the Zero Point in Tiruvallur district and flows on to the Poondi reservoir. From Poondi, link canals carry it to the other lakes that supply Metro Water, including Puzhal (Red Hills) and Chembarambakkam. Because the water travels a long way in an open canal, a good share is lost to seepage and evaporation before it reaches the border.
The delivery schedule
The arrangement splits the 12 TMC into two windows, according to The South First:
| Period | Quantity due |
|---|---|
| July to October | 8 TMC |
| January to April | 4 TMC |
| Received by 9 October 2026 | about 2.25 TMC |
Actual deliveries have often fallen well short of 12 TMC, and this year is no exception. The 2.25 TMC received by early October is less than a third of what was due for the July to October window. Deliveries depend on how much water Andhra Pradesh holds in its own reservoirs, the state of the canals and the need to meet local demand along the route.
The October 2026 talks
Ministers N. Anand and Aadhav Arjuna joined Vijay at the meeting at Naidu’s residence. Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh also attended. Two topics were reported:
- Krishna water release: Andhra Pradesh agreed to release water over the following two months, according to DT Next. The Tamil Nadu government had not publicly confirmed a quantity at the time of reporting, as The South First noted.
- Godavari-Cauvery river linking: Vijay sought Andhra Pradesh’s support for the proposed link, which would carry surplus Godavari water south through Andhra Pradesh towards the Cauvery. DT Next reported he had already asked the Prime Minister to declare it a national project. He raised it again at the Prime Minister’s event in Chennai on 11 October.
The Week noted that concerns about proposed dams that could affect flows into Tamil Nadu were also expected to come up. No outcome on that was reported.
What it means for Chennai taps
The shortfall matters most in the months before the monsoon fills the lakes. When Krishna water arrives late, Metro Water leans harder on desalination and on groundwater, and some areas see supply cut to alternate days.
Krishna water is one of several sources for Metro Water. The others are the city’s lakes, the Kannankottai Thervoy Kandigai reservoir and desalination plants at Minjur and Nemmeli. Metro Water supplies about 1,260 million litres a day across the Corporation area, DT Next reported on 14 October. The ₹3,108.55 crore Ring Main System, begun the same week, will let Metro Water share water from any source across the city. It does not reduce how much the city depends on outside supply.
For daily supply updates, area schedules and complaints, check the Chennai Metro Water website. Metro Water also publishes updates on reservoir storage. Residents in areas on alternate-day supply can ask their Metro Water area office for the current schedule and book a tanker through the board if a scheduled supply is missed.
Quick answers
How much Krishna water should Chennai get each year?
12 TMC at the Tamil Nadu border: 8 TMC between July and October and 4 TMC between January and April.
Where does Krishna water enter Tamil Nadu?
At the Zero Point in Tiruvallur district, from where it flows to Poondi reservoir.
Did Andhra Pradesh agree to release more water in October 2026?
DT Next reported that Andhra Pradesh agreed to release water over the next two months after the 13 October meeting. No quantity was announced publicly.
Is Chennai facing a shortage?
Reservoirs were at about 35% of capacity in mid-October. The monsoon, which began on 15 October, will largely decide storage for the coming months.
Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
Sources
- Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB)
- After Vijay-Naidu talks, Andhra Pradesh agrees to release Krishna water to Chennai (DT Next)
- TN CM Vijay meets Andhra counterpart Chandrababu Naidu, discusses Krishna river water sharing (The South First)
- Vijay to head to Vijayawada to seek Krishna water for Chennai (The Week)
- CM Vijay lays ground for Rs 3,109 crore Ring Main Project (DT Next)
