Context:

An ongoing Jalajagadam (fight over water resources), once again drew the police forces of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana into a tense standoff at the common reservoirs of the two states.

About Krishna Water Dispute:

• A dispute over the sharing of Krishna waters has been ongoing for many decades, beginning with the erstwhile Hyderabad and Mysore states, and later continuing between successors Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.
• In 1969, the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal (KWDT) was set up under the Inter-State River Water Dispute Act, 1956, and presented its report in 1973.
• The Tribunal divided the 2060 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) of Krishna water at 75 percent dependability into three parts: 560 TMC for Maharashtra, 700 TMC for Karnataka, and 800 TMC for Andhra (facts not important)
• The second KWDT was instituted in 2004.

Concerns of two States

• There are disagreements over the sharing of the Krishna river water between the two states.
  • Andhra Pradesh concern: Andhra Pradesh alleges that Telangana has been drawing Krishna water from four projects — Jurala, Srisailam, Nagarjuna Sagar, and Pulichintala — for hydropower generation without approvals from the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB).
  • KRMB is an autonomous body that was set up after the bifurcation of the state, to manage and regulate the waters in the Krishna basin.
  • It is also accused that the water is used for power generation is being wasted by releasing it into the Bay of Bengal. 
• Telangana’s concern: It has opposed the irrigation projects of the Andhra Pradesh government, especially the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Project (RLIP), which it claims is illegal.

The river water disputes are resolved

• The Interstate River Water Disputes Act, 1956 (IRWD Act) is an act under Article 262 of the Constitution.
• Under the Act, a state government may request the central government to refer an inter-state river dispute to a Tribunal for adjudication.
• Tribunal: The Tribunal will consist of a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, three judicial members, and three expert members.
  • They will be appointed by the central government on the recommendation of a Selection Committee.
  • The Tribunal must give its decision within three years, which may be extended by two years.
• Under the Act, if the matter is again referred to the Tribunal by a state for further consideration, the Tribunal must submit its report to the central government within one year.
• This decision has the same force as that of an order of the Supreme Court.