The Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II (KWDT-II) has ruled in favour of Telangana by agreeing to hear about water allocation between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh based on the new Terms of Reference (TOR) issued under Section 3 of the Interstate River Water Disputes Act, 1956.
The landmark order, delivered on Thursday, is expected to pave the way for the fair distribution of Krishna River waters between the two states.
One of the primary reasons for Telangana formation was the historical injustice in the allocation of Krishna River waters.
After statehood in 2014, the then Government of Telangana accepted only 299 TMCs of water out of the 811 TMCs allocated to United Andhra Pradesh by the Bachawat Tribunal. However, Telangana argued that with 68.5% of the Krishna River basin within its territory, it was entitled to 555 TMC, highlighting a major shortfall in its rightful share.
In 2015, Telangana approached the Supreme Court seeking the establishment of a new tribunal for a fresh allocation of Krishna waters. However, delays in withdrawing the petition until 2021 hampered progress.
The Union Government issued a new TOR to KWDT-II in October 2023, which expanded the scope to include ongoing and proposed projects in both states.
The tribunal ruled that it will prioritize hearings based on the new TOR, which subsume the restrictive provisions of Section 89 of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014.
Andhra Pradesh argued that the tribunal should first consider the earlier TOR under Section 89, but the Supreme Court directed Andhra Pradesh to participate in the proceedings without any interim relief. The tribunal emphasized the relevance of the new TOR in addressing the equitable distribution of water, including project-specific allocations for Telangana.
Telangana officials have accused Andhra Pradesh of deliberately delaying tribunal proceedings by contesting the validity of the new TOR in the Supreme Court through Writ Petition No. 1230 of 2023.
Telangana maintained that these delays undermine justice for its people, particularly those dependent on Krishna Basin projects like Palamuru-Rangareddy, Kalwakurthy and Nettempadu.
Telangana’s Irrigation Minister, N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, hailed the tribunal’s decision as a victory for the state.
“The order ensures that Telangana’s rightful share of Krishna waters will be considered fairly. It also addresses the enbloc allocation of 811 TMCs made by the Bachawat Tribunal, ensuring justice for Telangana,” he said.
The government also emphasized the need for expediting the hearing process to ensure that development projects, particularly in drought-prone districts like Palamuru and Rangareddy, are not delayed again.
The tribunal’s decision to prioritize hearings based on the new TOR is seen as a critical step towards resolving water disputes and delivering justice to Telangana. This development also underscores the importance of addressing inter-state disputes with a focus on long-term sustainability and fairness.
