Hyderabad: Tensions as Krishna River Water Tribunal – 2 final award delayed

Hyderabad: The delay in announcement of the final award on the sharing of water between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh by the Krishna River Water Tribunal – 2 is leading to tensions between both the Telugu States.

The tribunal is unable to announce its final verdict as hearings from both the States have not been completed. The tribunal is unable to meet as there is no third member.

According to irrigation officials, the post of judge of the three member tribunal is vacant. The tribunal would be able to complete the hearings only if the third judge is appointed. A tribunal has been formed to settle the water disputes among erstwhile combined Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka in 1969.

The term of the award of the tribunal ended in 2001. Later, the Centre constituted second Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal (KWDT-2) for adjudicating the dispute among the three parties. The tribunal gave its report and decision in 2010. The States and the Central government sought further clarification from the tribunal. The Union Ministry of Water Resources extended the tenure of the tribunal of tribunal for two years or until further order in 2014 as per the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act. Telangana has been made a party to the cases.

The tribunal has to settle the issues not only among Maharashtra, Karnataka and Telugu States, it has also to address the issues being raised by Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

As per temporary allocations, AP has been given 512 tmcft and Telangana 299 tmcft out of the 811 tmcft assured water being given to both states in the Krishna river. The same formula has been followed in the past six years. Though the tribunal is supposed to hear the arguments of both the states and announce final award, it has been delayed for the past six years.