Latest news with #Polavaram–BanakacherlaLinkProject
Time of India
16-07-2025
- 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.
The Hindu
02-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
BRS trying to wriggle out of Bankacherla project fiasco with utter lies: Congress MP Chamala Kiran
Bhongir MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy credited the Congress government for the Central Environmental Expert Committee's decision to halt further clearances for the contentious Polavaram–Banakacherla Link Project, despite the BRS government allowing full rights to the Andhra Pradesh government on Godavari waters. 'It was only after our government's serious intervention and strong objections at the Central level that the committee decided to put the project on hold,' he said at a press conference here on Wednesday. The Congress MP said the decision was the result of persistent efforts by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy to protect the State's water interests. He criticised BRS MLA Harish Rao, saying that the BRS was trying to wriggle out of its predicament of offering Godavari waters to the then A.P. government after Chief Minister Revanth Reddy exposed the BRS's lies. Mr. KCR's statements and the BRS failures were exposed with evidence, and people were convinced how the BRS government mortgaged the State's interests. Mr. Harish Rao is trying to rake up the Telangana sentiment, linking Chandrababu Naidu, forgetting that it was the BRS government that had actually offered Godavari waters to the Jaganmohan Reddy government.
The Hindu
30-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
A.P.'s Polavaram–Banakacherla project fails to get environmental clearance
In a setback to the Andhra Pradesh government, the Central Environmental Expert Committee (EAC) has refused to grant environmental clearance to the proposed Polavaram–Banakacherla Link Project. The committee cited multiple objections and emphasised that any further progress must be in line with the verdict of the Godavari Water Dispute Tribunal (GWDT), said EAC report dated June 30. The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC), chaired by G.K. Chakrapani, held a meeting in virtual mode on June 17 to examine the proposal. During the session, the committee took into consideration a wide range of objections received through emails and other channels. Several complaints alleged that the project violates the 1980 GWDT judgment. Concerns were also raised about potential submergence issues in the neighbouring States of Odisha and Chhattisgarh, along with pending legal disputes. The committee advised that the Central Water Commission (CWC) be consulted for a comprehensive evaluation of floodwater management and to address environmental and inter-State concerns. It stressed that assessments of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Terms of Reference (ToR), and inter-State water-sharing implications should be done in collaboration with the CWC. Based on these recommendations, the Centre has returned the proposal to the Andhra Pradesh government for further clarification and revision. The EAC observes that the projected benefits of the Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project include provision of drinking water for approximately 80 lakh people, creation of a new irrigation ayacut of 3 lakh hectares, stabilisation of an existing ayacut of 9.14 lakh hectares, supply of 20 tmc ft of water for industrial use, and development of 400 MW of hydropower generation capacity. It noted that the proposed scheme aims to divert floodwaters from the Godavari basin (Polavaram Dam) to the water-deficit basins within the State. The EAC further observed that Environmental Clearance (EC) for the Indira Sagar Polavaram Multipurpose Project on the Godavari in Andhra Pradesh was granted by the Ministry on January 25, 2005. However, due to submergence-related issues in Odisha and Chhattisgarh, the matter remains sub judice. Accordingly, the committee recommended that Andhra Pradesh should comprehensively assess the availability of floodwaters in consultation with the CWC. Furthermore, the EAC noted that several representations have been received, alleging that the proposed scheme may be in violation of the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal Award, 1980. So, it is imperative that the Andhra Pradesh should approach the CWC for examining the inter-State issues and granting necessary clearance before submitting the proposal for framing the TOR for conducting EIA study, the panel said.
