Water wars of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
- Posted By
10Pointer
- Categories
Polity & Governance
- Published
8th Jul, 2021
-
Context
An ongoing jalajagadam (fight over water resources), once again drew the police forces of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana into a tense standoff at the common reservoirs of the two states.
About the water dispute between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
- There are disagreements over the sharing of the Krishna river water between the two states.
- Andhra Pradesh concern: Andhra Pradesh alleges that Telangana has been drawing Krishna water from four projects — Jurala, Srisailam, Nagarjuna Sagar, and Pulichintala — for hydropower generation without approvals from the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB).
- KRMB is an autonomous body that was set up after the bifurcation of the state, to manage and regulate the waters in the Krishna basin.
- It is also accused that the water is used for power generation is being wasted by releasing it into the Bay of Bengal.
- Telangana’s concern: It has opposed the irrigation projects of the Andhra Pradesh government, especially the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Project (RLIP), which it claims is illegal.
Distribution of water between the two states
- The two states agreed to split the water share 66:34 on an ad hoc basis until the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-2 decided the final allocation.
- Telangana has called for a 50:50 allocation of water from the Krishna river.
Telangana hydel push
- The Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project was inaugurated in 2019 requires a huge amount of power to draw water from the Godavari river.
- Telangananeeds the hydel energy to power its Nettempadu, Bheema, Koilsagar, and Kalwakurthy lift irrigation projects.
- Hydel power is cheaper and imposes a smaller burden on the already stretched state budget.
The solution to the disagreement
- The 3 member dispute resolution committee could not arrive at any decision.
- Telangana wants the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-2 to permanently settle the water dispute; in the meantime.
About River Water Tribunals
- The Interstate River Water Disputes Act, 1956 (IRWD Act) is an act under Article 262 of the Constitution.
- Under the Act, a state government may request the central government to refer an inter-state river dispute to a Tribunal for adjudication.
- The Tribunal will consist of a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, three judicial members, and three expert members. They will be appointed by the central government on the recommendation of a Selection Committee.
- The Tribunal must give its decision within three years, which may be extended by two years.
- Under the Act, if the matter is again referred to the Tribunal by a state for further consideration, the Tribunal must submit its report to the central government within one year.
- This decision has the same force as that of an order of the Supreme Court.
KRISHNA WATER DISPUTES TRIBUNAL-II
- In 2004, the Central Government has constituted Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal (KWDT) for adjudicating a dispute between the States of Maharashtra, Karnataka, and erstwhile Andhra Pradesh under Section 4 of the Inter-State River Water Dispute (ISRWD) Act, 1956.
- The Tribunal has given its report and decision in 2010.
- Tribunal is currently hearing the disputes on matters related to the newly created State of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
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