Revanth calls for strong arguments for TG's rightful share before Krishna Tribunal
Hyderabad:Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Wednesday stressed the need for robust arguments before the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II (KWDT-II) to secure Telangana’s rightful share of Krishna river water under Section 3 of the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act (ISRWDA)-1956.
He said that water allocations should be determined project-wise, as stipulated in Section 89 of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act (APRA)-2014.
He was speaking at a review meeting on Krishna water issue in Delhi ahead of the two-day KWDT-II hearings starting on Thursday.
The Chief Minister noted that the apex council, formed under APRA, had earlier recommended water distribution between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana under Section 3. He also pointed out that although the Andhra Pradesh government had approached the Supreme Court regarding further terms of reference for KWDT-II, the court did not grant any stay orders.
In Wednesday’s review meeting held at his official residence, Reddy directed officials to take a firm stance against Andhra Pradesh’s unilateral decision to proceed with the Godavari-Banakacherla interlinking project without the requisite permissions. He instructed irrigation officials to send letters of objection to Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, and the Godavari and Krishna River Management Boards (GRMB and KRMB).
The Chief Minister emphasised that as per the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, any new river project within the two states requires prior notification to GRMB, KRMB, and the neighbouring state.
Reddy tasked officials with conducting a study on the impact of the Polavaram project on Bhadrachalam flooding, by collaborating with IIT Hyderabad to complete the assessment within the timeline. Additionally, he urged the authorities to expedite the approval process for the Sammakka Sarakka barrage and the Palamuru-Ranga Reddy lift irrigation projects.
Later, irrigation minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, speaking to reporters in New Delhi, pointed out that discussions were held with senior irrigation officials and the state’s legal counsel to strategise for the KWDT-II hearings.
Senior counsel Vaidyanathan, representing the state in the Supreme Court, also participated in the discussions.
At present, Telangana receives 299 TMCft of Krishna water out of the 811 TMCft allocated to the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh. Telangana is now pushing for a revised allocation of 550 TMCft, arguing for equitable distribution based on basin spread and opposing Andhra Pradesh’s alleged plans to use Krishna water outside the river basin areas.
The tribunal hearings are seen as critical to protecting Telangana’s irrigation and water resources interests.
