The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill, 2013, currently under the consideration of the state legislature, envisages a vital role for the Centre in the management of water resources between the successor states of Telangana and (new) Andhra Pradesh.
Sharing and management of water resources between the two states, post-bifurcation, is likely to be a tricky issue given the complex nature of irrigation projects and water allocation in undivided Andhra Pradesh.
The President has given time till January 23 to the AP legislature to return the draft bill after due deliberations.
The draft bill says the Centre would constitute an Apex Council for the supervision of the functioning of two management boards of Godavari and Krishna rivers.
The council shall comprise the Union Water Resources Minister as its Chairperson and the Chief Ministers of the two states as members.
The functions of the council shall include planning and approval of proposals for construction of new projects, if any, based on Godavari or Krishna river water and also resolution of any dispute amicably arising out of the sharing of river waters.
The functions shall also include reference of any disputes not covered under Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal, to a Tribunal to be constituted under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956.
The Centre shall constitute two separate boards to be called the Godavari River Management Board and Krishna River Management Board for the "administration, regulation, maintenance and operation of such projects, as may be notified by the Central Government from time to time."
As stated in the bill, the headquarters of the Godavari River Management Board shall be located in Telangana state and Krishna River Management Board shall be located in Andhra Pradesh.
The two boards shall be "autonomous bodies under the administrative control of the Central Government, and shall comply with such directions as may, from time to time, be given to them by the Central Government." .