An interbasin transfer moves water from one natural drainage basin to another. Polavaram's planned Godavari-to-Krishna diversion is one example. Rayalaseema supply schemes draw from Krishna-system water at or near Srisailam and carry it toward drier interior districts. They should be understood as engineered networks, not new natural tributaries. Water availability depends on reservoir levels, allocations, pumping, power, canal condition and the timing of releases.
Handri-Neeva Sujala Sravanthi (HNSS) is associated with Srisailam backwaters and supplies portions of Rayalaseema through a long lift-and-canal system. Galeru-Nagari Sujala Sravanthi is another major conveyance scheme discussed for the region. Telugu Ganga is associated with transfer through reservoirs including Kandaleru and has irrigation and drinking-water dimensions. Every scheme can be drawn as a chain of arrows; that is the correct mental model when a question asks where its water comes from.
Do not confuse intended benefits with realised coverage. Official project briefs describe design objectives, whereas annual reports and operating data show implementation at a date. Districts created after a project was named may split its intended command across present boundaries. For a static geography question, answer the source and broad beneficiary region. For a current affairs question, check the latest commissioning and distribution report.
A police exam may frame a project as a reasoning question: If Srisailam is on Krishna and HNSS lifts from its backwaters, HNSS is not naturally a Penna tributary merely because its canal reaches the Penna-side interior. Maintain the distinction between where water starts and where people use it.
Worked map reasoning
A transfer scheme should be mapped with two colours: one for natural drainage, one for constructed conveyance. Mark Srisailam on Krishna, then trace the inland route of Handri-Neeva or other schemes as a separate arrow. A dry receiving district may benefit without becoming part of the Krishna's natural basin. The lift requirement also signals that water must be raised above the gravity route at one or more points.
Active recall: close the book, place the named river or region on a blank map, and explain one likely exam confusion in your own words.