Latest news with #KrishnaWaterDisputesTribunal
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Krishna water tribunal gets a year's extension from August 1
Representative image NEW DELHI: Days after granting an extension to Ravi and Beas Waters Tribunal, the country's oldest water disputes tribunal, the Centre has extended the tenure of Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal as well. Constituted in April 2004 to adjudicate the river water-sharing dispute among Maharashtra, Karnataka and erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, Krishna tribunal has got an extension of another year, with effect from August 1. Krishna tribunal is one of the four active river-water tribunals in India, which have got extensions year after year, as they haven't managed to come up with an acceptable decision despite their extended tenures. "The said tribunals were constituted to adjudicate disputes between two or more states and therefore need to work towards early resolution, particularly since such disputes involve public interest and public welfare. Given the wide-reaching implications of such adjudication, I believe the proceedings should be completed in a time-bound manner while also adhering to the procedural laws," said Khushal Garg, a Delhi high court advocate who has been following the issue. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Indonesia melirik jet tempur J-10 milik China. Mengapa para pakar memperingatkan untuk hati-hati? CNA Indonesia Baca Undo Noting that granting repeated extensions dilutes the essence of justice, he said, "The Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 may be amended to incorporate fixed timelines for final decisions, as it would expedite resolution process". The terms of reference of the 21-year-old Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal were amended last year to accommodate the water-sharing concerns of a fourth state, Telangana, as well, factoring in issues arising out of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Krishna tribunal granted a year's extension, Jal Shakti minister meets CMs of Andhra, Telangana to resolve disputes
Union Jal Shakti minister C R Patil (PTI file photo) NEW DELHI: Days after granting an extension to the Ravi and Beas Waters Tribunal, the country's oldest water disputes tribunal, the centre has extended the tenure of the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal as well. Constituted in April 2004 to adjudicate the river water-sharing dispute among Maharashtra, Karnataka and erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, the Krishna tribunal has got an extension of another year, with effect from August 1. The Krishna tribunal is one of the four active river-water tribunals in the country, which have got extensions year after year, as they have not managed to come up with an acceptable decision despite their extended tenures. 'The said tribunals were constituted to adjudicate disputes between two or more states and therefore need to work towards early resolution, particularly since such disputes involve public interest and public welfare. Given the wide-reaching implications of such adjudication, I believe the proceedings should be completed in a time-bound manner while also adhering to the procedural laws,' said Khushal Garg, a Delhi high court advocate who has been following the issue. Noting that granting repeated extensions dilutes the essence of justice, he said, 'The Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 may be amended to incorporate fixed timelines for final decisions, as it would expedite the resolution process'. The terms of reference of the 21-year-old Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal were amended last year to accommodate the water-sharing concerns of a fourth state, Telangana, as well, factoring in issues arising out of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014. Meanwhile, Union Jal Shakti minister C R Patil on Wednesday convened a meeting with chief minister of Andhra Pradesh N Chandrababu Naidu and chief minister of Telangana A Revanth Reddy to address the prevailing water-related issues between the two states. It was decided at the meeting to set up a committee in a week to resolve the dispute between the two states over the proposed Polavaram–Banakacherla Link Project (PBLP). Both states agreed on the installation of telemetry devices for real-time monitoring of water flows in the Krishna Basin. It was also agreed that immediate measures would be taken to address maintenance issues to safeguard Srisailam dam. Further, the two states decided that the office of Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) would be shifted to Vijayawada or Amravati. Besides the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal and Ravi and Beas tribunal, the other two active tribunals are the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal for Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka (set up in Nov 2010), and Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal for Odisha and Chhattisgarh (Mar 2018). Suggesting a way out to arrive at a certain decision in such long pending disputes, Garg said that the working of the Vansadhara Water Dispute Tribunal could also be referred to as how the Tribunal has given two decisions, one interim and the other as its final decision in the dispute. "So far as the interim order was concerned, the same was challenged before the Supreme Court. Despite the pendency of the challenge before the apex court, the Tribunal proceeded with the matter as there was no stay order passed by the Supreme Court and passed the final order on the reference made. Consequently, the Tribunal was dissolved by the central government with effect from March 10, 2022," he said.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Centre grants one-year extension to Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal
New Delhi: The Centre has granted yet another extension to the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal , allowing it time until July 31, 2026, to submit its final report and decision regarding the long-standing inter-state water-sharing dispute involving the Krishna river. The notification issued by the Ministry of Jal Shakti states that the extension was made under the powers conferred by the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Project Management Degree Data Analytics Design Thinking Leadership Finance Operations Management Artificial Intelligence Management MBA Cybersecurity PGDM Others others Product Management Data Science Public Policy CXO Healthcare Data Science Technology healthcare MCA Digital Marketing Skills you'll gain: Project Planning & Governance Agile Software Development Practices Project Management Tools & Software Techniques Scrum Framework Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Certificate Programme in IT Project Management Starts on Jun 20, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Portfolio Management Project Planning & Risk Analysis Strategic Project/Portfolio Selection Adaptive & Agile Project Management Duration: 6 Months IIT Delhi Certificate Programme in Project Management Starts on May 30, 2024 Get Details This comes in response to a formal request made by the Tribunal, which sought more time to complete its work. The Tribunal's tenure had previously been extended till July 31, 2025, via a March 2024 notification. Originally constituted in April 2004, the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal was set up to adjudicate disputes between Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra over the sharing of Krishna River waters. Live Events The Tribunal had submitted its initial report in December 2010, but references and objections raised by the states necessitated further hearings and decisions. Further complicating the issue was the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in 2014, after which the newly formed Telangana also became a stakeholder in the Krishna water dispute. Since then, its deadline has been extended multiple times through successive notifications. The latest extension continues the pattern, with the government citing section 5(3) of the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, allowing for more time "in public interest and to address the concerns of the party states". Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
The Hindu
04-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Why are Andhra Pradesh and Telangana fighting over Banakacherla project?
Story so far: Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are once again embroiled in a water dispute, this time over the Banakacherla project. The ambitious project which will link the Godavari and Krishna River basins via reservoirs, canals, and lift irrigation scheme is Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu's pet project, first envisioned in 2014 after the bifurcation of Andhra and Telangana. With Mr. Naidu again at the helm in Andhra, he seeks speedy construction of the project, but faces tough opposition from Telangana. Also Read: Explained | The Telangana- Andhra Pradesh water dispute 'Nearly 2,000 Thousand Million Cubic Feet (tmc ft) water from the Godavari flows into the sea, while the Rayalaseema area suffers from drought,' said Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav in February, while stressing the need for the Godavari-Banakacherla project. In response, the Telangana government has accused Andhra of violating the inter-state river water sharing agreement agreed to in the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014. Here's a look at the project and row between the states: What is the Banakarchela project? Post-bifurcation, Andhra Pradesh has strived to utilise the 'surplus' Godavari waters to provide relief to a drought-prone Rayalseema region. As per Mr. Naidu's vision, by interlinking the Godavari-Krishna basins, the 2000 tmc. ft. Godavari river water flowing into the Bay of Bengal can be diverted from the Polavaram Dam towards the Banakacherla region in Rayalseema. To link Godavari and Krishna, Andhra plans on diverting Godavari flood waters to Prakasam Barrage on Krishna river at Vijayawada and then pump it to the Bollapalli reservoir via canals, and irrigation lifts. From there, tunnels passing under Nallamala forests will transfer water to Banakacherla reservoir, benefitting Kadapa and Kurnool regions. With an estimated cost of ₹80,112 crore, Banakacherla project requires the acquisition of 40,500 acres including forest land. Annually, 3000 tmc of Godavari floodwaters run into the Bay of Bengal during the 100-odd days of monsoon. Andhra wishes to divert 200 tmc of this run-off towards Krishna basin by enhancing Polavaram Right Main Canal's capacity to 38,000 cusecs, Thatipudi Lift Irrigation Scheme's canal to 10,000 cusecs and construct a reservoir at Bollapalli with a storage capacity of 150 tmc ft. Powered by six lift stations at Harischandrapuram, Lingapuram, Vyyandana, Gangireddypalem, and Nakirekallu, with a total power demand over 4000 MW, water will be transfered to Banakacherla dam via tunnels under Nallamala forest. Andhra sees this as the most viable solution to Rayalseema's drought woes. Andhra's argument In 2013, the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal, divided the available 2130 tmc ft of Krishna waters among undivided Andhra (1005 tmc), Karnataka (907 tmc) and Maharashtra (666 tmc). Since the award, both Telugu states have been crying foul as the Tribunal has robbed them of its freedom to use surplus water in its natural catchment. The Tribunal, in its calculations, has equally divided the surplus water of 285 tmc between undivided Andhra and the other two states. Post-bifurcation, Mr. Naidu and then-Telangana CM K Chandrashekhara Rao struck deal allowing Telangana to utilise 299 tmc ft and Andhra 512 tmc ft of the 811 tmc ft of Krishna river waters, awarded to unified Andhra Pradesh by the Bachawat Tribunal in 1976. Similarly, the Godavari Water Dispute Tribunal (GWDT) ordered Andhra Pradesh to divert 80 tmc ft of Godavari waters from Polavaram to Krishna river to be shared upstream with Karnataka and Maharashtra. Without any mention of surplus waters, the tribunal allotted 1486 tmc ft to undivided Andhra. Hence, the Andhra Pradesh government claims that with the Polavaram-Banakacherla link, the State was only using 'unused surplus waters' flowing into Andhra Pradesh after the needs of the upper riparian States are met. Affirming that both Polavaram project and Banakacherla were in compliance with the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, Andhra has requested to maintain status quo on the allocations of the Krishna river water made by the Tribunal. Mr. Naidu has also asked Telangana to discuss with the Centre about the legal sanctity to utilise flood waters flowing into the sea. Telangana's argument On the other hand, Telangana has claimed that the project violates the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014 as the upper riparian state was allotted 968 tmc ft of Godavari waters while Andhra was given 500 tmc ft by GWDT. Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy claims that as the Tribunal did not mention allocation of 'surplus waters', Banakacherla was a threat to the state's water security. Telangana's irrigation minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy accuses Andhra and the Godavari River Management Board (GRMB) of hiding the project details. He claims that Andhra was proceeding with the project without getting any clearances from the statutory agencies or doing a thorough impact study. What do experts say? 'Increasing the Polavaram canal capacity will significantly alter the natural west-to-east flow regime. This could reduce freshwater inflows to downstream deltas, leading to increased salinity intrusion, loss of sediment and nutrients, disruption of aquatic ecosystems, and harm to agriculture and fisheries in the Godavari and Krishna deltas,' explains Shrinivas Badiger, a Fellow at Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment. Elaborating on the Polavaram canal enhancement, Shripad Dharmadhikary, founder of water research organisation Manthan, says, 'It will impact the delta/ estuary downstream of the Polavaram project. Reduced flow will bring down the sediments and silt flowing downstream, reducing soil fertility, increasing saltwater ingress , thus impacting productivity of agriculture, fish and nearby mangroves'. Countering Andhra's assertion that the project was the 'only solution' to Rayalseema's water woes, Mr. Badiger says, 'Other measures like groundwater recharge, rainwater harvesting, micro-irrigation, and smaller intra-basin transfers have not been fully exhausted. The project also faces significant legal, environmental, and interstate challenges that complicate its implementation'. Effects of the tunneling through the Nallamala forests would be severe, warn experts. 'Disrupting soil stability and groundwater flow will affect critical wildlife habitats. It will also threaten endangered species, including tigers and elephants, and risks damaging the ecological balance of this protected forest area. It may also affect indigenous communities dependent on the forest,' adds Mr. Badiger. What is the current state of the project? On June 30, the Central Environmental Expert Committee (EAC) refused to grant environmental clearance to the proposed Polavaram–Banakacherla Link Project. Citing multiple objections, it stated that any progress must be in line with the 1980 verdict of the GWDT. Moreover, it urged Andhra to consult the Central Water Commission (CWC) for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Terms of Reference (ToR), floodwater evaluation and inter-State water-sharing concerns. Andhra's proposal has now been returned to the state for further clarification and revision.
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
CM's oppn to rise of Almatti dam height sparks row
Vijayapura: CM Devendra Fadnavis' opposition to the proposed increase in height of Almatti dam has reignited tensions between Maharashtra and Karnataka over the Krishna river water. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It comes even as Karnataka struggles to complete the long-pending Upper Krishna Project Phase-2. In a letter to Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, Fadnavis objected to raising the dam's height from 519 m to 524 m, claiming it would flood upstream areas of Sangli and Kolhapur in Maharashtra. However, his objections have been contested after revelations that a high-level expert committee appointed by Maharashtra govt in 2020 had found no basis for such apprehensions. The seven-member panel, led by irrigation expert and ex-Maharashtra principal secretary Nandakumar Vadnere, had studied flood patterns and the river basin across both states before submitting its findings. The committee's report, submitted to then CM Uddhav Thackeray, concluded the recurring floods in Sangli and Kolhapur were not linked to water storage in Almatti and Hipparagi reservoirs. Instead, the report blamed "encroachment in the river basin and illegal, unscientific construction of buildings in Sangli and Kolhapur" as primary causes. Other members of the committee included Sanjay Ghanekar, R R Pawar, Pradeep Purandare, Atul Kapole, N S Khare and Dhairyasheel Pawar. During their study, the committee members visited locations including Almatti dam and Hipparagi reservoir, where Karnataka officials briefed them on water storage and flood-prevention measures. Maharashtra's stand marks the first formal objection since the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal delivered its final verdict in 2013, allocating 173 tmcft of Krishna water to Karnataka.
