Krishna Water Dispute Tribunal

Why is in news? Cabinet approves Terms of Reference to Krishna Water Dispute Tribunal-II under Inter State River Water Disputes (ISRWD) Act, 1956 – request from State of Telangana

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister has approved the issue of further Terms of Reference (ToR) to the existing Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II (KWDT-II) under section 5(1) of the ISRWD Act for its adjudication between the States of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh (AP)

This is based on receipt of the legal opinion and in light thereof on the issues raised by Government of Telangana (GoT) in their complaint under section (3) of the Inter State River Water Disputes (ISRWD)Act, 1956

The resolution of dispute between the two States on the use, distribution or control of Krishna river waters will open new avenues of growth in both the States of Telangana and AP and will be beneficial for the people of both these States, thus helping in building our country stronger.

About the tribunal:

Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II was constituted by the Central Government on 02.04.2004 on requests made by the party States under Section 3 of the ISRWD Act, 1956.

Subsequently, on 02.06.2014, Telangana, as a State of the Union of India, came into existence.

The dispute began with the erstwhile Hyderabad and Mysore states and later continued between successors Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

1,400-km Krishna River flows east from Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra to the Bay of Bengal.

It passes through Karnataka, and forms part of border between Telangana & Andhra.

The Telangana-Andhra Pradesh water dispute has its roots in the formation of Andhra Pradesh in 1956.

It originated from the Gentlemen’s Agreement signed in 1956, which aimed to protect the Telangana region’s interests regarding water resources.

In 1969, the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal (KWDT) was set up under the Inter-State River Water Dispute Act, of 1956, and presented its report in 1973.

The dispute centers on the sharing of water from the Krishna River, which flows through both states.

After the bifurcation of the state, both states have proposed new projects (e.g., the project to increase Krishna water utilization above the Srisailam Reservoir) without proper clearance from river boards and authorities as required by the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.

This led to complaints and disputes between the two states. Also, Telangana has been pushing for an equal share.

The Tribunal also recommended that the water be shared in the ratio of 512:299 tmcft between Andhra and Telangana, respectively and to share water in the ratio of 34:66.

However, the Andhra Pradesh government did not implement the Tribunal's recommendations. Instead, it continued to divert water from the Krishna River to areas in Andhra Pradesh that were outside of the Krishna River basin.

Inter-State River Water Disputes:

Under Article 262, Parliament may by law provide for the adjudication of any dispute or complaint with respect to the use, distribution and control of waters of any inter-state river and river valley.

The Parliament enacted two laws, the River Boards Act (1956) and the Inter-State Water Disputes Act (1956).

Legal Provisions:

The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 mandates for the constitution of an Apex Council by the Central Government for the supervision of the functioning of the Godavari River Management Board and Krishna River Management Board.

The Apex Council comprises the Union Water Resources Minister and the Chief Ministers of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

About River Krishna:

The Krishna is an east-flowing river.

Originates atMahabaleshwarin Maharashtra and merges with the Bay of Bengal

It flows through Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Together with its tributaries, it forms a vast basin that covers 33% of the total area of the four states.

Theprincipal tributariesjoining Krishna are the Ghataprabha, the Malaprabha, the Bhima, the Tungabhadra and the Musi.

Most of this basin comprisesrolling and undulatingcountry, except for the western border, which is formed by an unbroken line of the Western Ghats.

The importantsoil typesfound in the basin are black soils, red soils, laterite and lateritic soils, alluvium, mixed soils, red and black soils and saline and alkaline soils.

Right bank:Venna, Koyna, Panchganga, Dudhganga, Ghataprabha, Malaprabha and Tungabhadraare the major right-bank tributaries.

Left Bank:Bhima, Dindi, Peddavagu, Halia, Musi, Paleru, and Munneruare the major left-bank tributaries.

Almatti Dam, Srisailam Dam, Nagarjuna Sagar Dam, and Prakasham Barrageare some of the major dams constructed on the river.