Impact of the Andhra Pradesh State Bifurcation (2014) on the Irrigation Sector A Case study on Nandigama Branch Canal of Nagarjuna Sagar Left Bank Canal (NSLBC) in residual Andhra Pradesh

The bifurcation of the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh in 2014 created several structural, administrative, and operational challenges—particularly in the irrigation sector. One of the most severely affected areas has been the Nandigama Branch Canal of Nagarjuna Sagar Left Bank Canal (NSLBC) system, a major irrigation infrastructure serving lakhs of farmers in the region. State bifurcation brought the head works and upper canal reaches into the control of Telangana State (TS), while tail-end command areas are under the control of Andhra Pradesh. As a result, AP has no control over water release from NSLBC head works, creating dependence and uncertainty. TS prioritize its own ayacut, leaving Andhra Pradesh’s tail-end farmers with delayed or inadequate water supply. Only around 30% to 40% of the ayacut area in AP under the Nandigama Branch Canal received the required water. There was no formal inter-state water sharing agreement for managing NSLBC operation post bifurcation. Absence of joint monitoring, discharge auditing, or dispute resolution body leads to unilateral control by TS. Farmers in the tail-end areas have been severely affected, leading to reduced agricultural productivity, increased dependence on groundwater, and socio-economic stress. This study aims to analyze the institutional, technical, and inter-state coordination challenges in water distribution, to suggest innovative engineering, administrative, and policy solutions to convert the existing "curse" of bifurcation-induced water stress into a "boon" by improving water access for farmers in AP, to engage the intelligentsia of irrigation engineering, policy makers, and water management professionals in crafting a sustainable, cooperative framework for the equitable operation of the selected canal system. The insights generated from this report will serve as a vital input for future deliberations on inter-state water management, especially in shared canal systems like NSLBC, and could act as a model for resolving similar issues in other parts of India.