As the Telangana 2023 Assembly and 2024 General Elections are approaching, the water dispute has started again between the two Telugu states. With the Centre deciding to refer Krishna river water sharing issue between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to the existing Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II (Justice Brijesh Kumar Tribunal), the BRS government has termed it as a victory for the people of TS. Meanwhile, opposition parties from AP are criticizing ruling YSRCP. Due to this, the debate on this has gained momentum in both the states. The opposition and pro-TDP media started campaigning that injustice is being done to AP due to the inefficiency of the YS Jagan government. Responding to opposition criticism, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy immediately wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
YS Jagan Seeks PM Modi’s Intervention:
YS Jagan Mohan Reddy urged Prime Minister to direct the concerned authorities not to proceed further on the terms of reference given to the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal -II under Section 5(1) of ISRWD Act, 1956 as the unilateral reference would jeopardise the interests of the people of AP. In a memorandum submitted the PM in Delhi he said, “I am of the firm view that such unilateral reference to an Inter State River Water Dispute Tribunal only for two states (Andhra Pradesh and Telangana) to the absolute exclusion of the other two basin states (Maharashtra and Karnataka) is not only unscientific but is also against the overall judicious use of water resources as a national asset,” and urged the PM to intervene immediately on the matter.
A working arrangement related to the regulation of waters by KRMB was made according to which 512 TMC to Andhra Pradesh and 299 TMC to Telangana out of 811 TMC allocated to the erstwhile state of Andhra Pradesh. It is a tripartite agreement signed by the Government of India and Governments of AP and Telangana. AP brought to the notice of the Minister of Jala Shakti on 17.08.2021 and subsequently June 2022 and requested Centre to take a judicious decision in regard to non-maintainability of the complaints given by the Telangana Government under law without disturbing the settled allocations by the Tribunals.
While this is the situation the Union Cabinet gave approval (4.10.2023) for issue of Terms of Reference (ToR) to KWDT-II under Section 5(1) of ISRWD Act, 1956 on the request of the Telangana as per its complaint ( Dated:14.07.2014). As pressure is mounting on the state government, CM appealed to the PM to intervene immediately and direct the concerned authorities not to proceed further on the terms of reference given to the KWDT-II.
War of Words between BJP & BRS:
Telangana government was taking Centre’s decision positively. State Minister T. Harish Rao said that Union government reacted after nine years to take a decision on Telangana's demand. BRS hoped that settlement of Krishna River Water sharing issue would benefit erstwhile Mahaboobnagar district which was deprived of its just share in the waters despite the fact that the district has the largest catchment area of Krishna river.
BRS is arguing that the Centre should constitute the tribunal within one year of the demand from a state government. For various reasons, long delay was happen in referring the dispute to the tribunal. Now, after the re-verification of water share, if the tribunal made project-wise allocations of water, all the projects including Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation and Kalwakurthy project will be allocated water.
Recently, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao criticizes Centre for not deciding the state's share in Krishna river waters. While inaugurating Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme, CM had asked people to question BJP leaders why their government at the Centre was unable to determine Telangana's share of Krishna waters.
BRS leaders recalled that the state government had gone to the Supreme Court for determination of its share in Krishna water but the Centre asked it to withdraw the case promising to refer the matter to the tribunal. They criticize Centre for delaying on decision even one year has passed since the Centre made the suggestion. Anyhow, Centre now refers the inter-state water dispute to tribunal.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Kishan Reddy has criticized the delay in resolving the Krishna river water dispute because of KCR. Speaking in Delhi after the Union Cabinet Meet, he explained that the Center could not take a step forward in the matter of setting up a special tribunal for many days due to the BRS government’s behavior. He said that with the latest decision of the Cabinet, more than 13 lakh farmers and their families who are farming in the Krishna catchment area of Telangana will benefit.
