HYDERABAD: The warring siblings, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, have joined hands before the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal against Karnataka and Maharashtra, and made a plea for project-wise allocation of Krishna river water to the four states and not just to AP and TS.
During hearing before the Krishna Tribunal-2, which began in Delhi on Monday, the AP and TS governments will request the tribunal to include the four states for project-wise allocation of the river water.
As per Section 89 of the AP Reorganisation Act, project-wise allocations are to be made by the tribunal but no tribunal has done it so far.
AP and TS are preparing to put up an argument that there should not be two systems in one river basin.
“The provisions of AP Reorganisation Act on project-wise allocations cannot be applied only to AP and TS, but should also be applied to Maharashtra and Karnataka,” Telangana government's irrigation officials briefed their advocates.
“If Krishna water can be allocated 'en bloc' to Maharashtra and Karnataka, why project-wise allocation to AP and TS?” is the officials’ contention.
Section 89 of AP Reorganisation Act also speaks about determining operational protocols in case of deficiency of water. “If water is deficit in the river in a year, how can AP and TS share the meagre volume of water? Justice demands that allocation be made to all the four states basing on projects,” is the line of argument TS will adopt.
The AP cabinet has adopted a resolution recently against “illegal” projects being built in Telangana and sent it to the central government. Telangana too has protested against the construction of Pattiseema project in Andhra Pradesh.
Notwithstanding these differences, the two states have joined hands before the tribunal for mutual benefit.
Telangana is also opposed to the idea of bringing all irrigation projects in Andhra Pradesh and TS under the purview of the Krishna River Management Board.
It may be done only when project-wise allocations are made, say TS officials.
AP’s arguments on day one
AP counsel AK Ganguly argued before the Krishna Tribunal on Monday that the scope of Section 89 of AP Reorganisation Act, in its plain language, does not restrict it to two states as otherwise Parliament would have said so.
Exercise of project-wise allocations cannot be restricted to only the truncated part of the river system but does involve all four states.
Quoting Sub-section B, Ganguly said that to make project-wise release of water, there has to be project-wise allocation.
“Explanation to the clause in Section 89 is not a substantive enactment but it does clarify that project-wise awards shall be binding on both new states and, by implication, involves the other states as well and it is a provision which is binding in nature.”