Andhra Pradesh irrigation officials opened one gate of the Nagarjunasagar Dam on Thursday to meet the drinking water needs of the state, an official said, which led to some friction with their Telangana counterparts.

Engineer-in-Chief (Irrigation) C Narayana Reddy told PTI that Andhra Pradesh officials had no other option but to open the gate to release 3,000 cusecs of water as Telangana has been allegedly creating hindrances over the past nine years.

“This is a drought year and we are left with no option but to take control of our facilities in our own territory,” said Reddy, adding that the dam gate was opened around 10 am.