AMARAVATI: According to legal and irrigation experts, the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal (KWDT-2) alone has the power to distribute the additional 45 TMCs allocated in the Krishna waters to United Andhra Pradesh above Nagarjuna Sagar and the 80 TMCs diverted to the Krishna Delta. Although the authority to distribute this water is not within the purview of the Krishna Board, the Telangana government has repeatedly erred in including the issue as an agenda item in board meetings.

If Godavari waters are diverted to Krishna Basin to that extent, the Godavari Tribunal has given the option to the States within the Krishna Basin to seek additional share in Krishna waters. Against this backdrop, the Telangana government is shifting 211,065 TMC of Godavari waters to the Krishna Basin.

According to the judgment of the Godavari Tribunal dated July 7, 1980, the Polavaram right canal also provides for the use of 80 TMCs of Godavari waters flowing into the Krishna Delta. An additional 45 TMCs are to be distributed to the two Telugu states in the Krishna waters above the Sagar in the wake of state partition. However, the Telangana government is asking the Krishna Board to make water allocations to ensure they alone can use 45 TMC.

In fact, the Telangana government is diverting 6.43 TMC of Godavari waters in the Krishna Basin for drinking water needs, Munneru through SRSP, 68.40 for Musi sub-basins, 24.650 through Devadula lift irrigation, 83.190 through Kaleswaram project and 28.395 through SRSP flood canal.

According to the judgment of the Godavari Tribunal, whichever state transfers the Godavari waters to the Krishna Basin, the rest of the States within the Basin will have the option of seeking an additional share in the Krishna Waters.

According to this provision, the AP government has been asking for an additional share in the Krishna waters for the Godavari waters of the 211.065 TMCs being moved by Telangana. The Krishna Board has asked the Central Water Resources Department to resolve the dispute.

The Central Water Commission (CWC) set up a high-level committee in 2017 under the chairmanship of AD Mohile, former chairman of the CWC, to study the issue as per the directions of the Union Ministry of Water Energy. This committee is yet to submit the study report to the Centre.

The Brijesh Kumar tribunal has the power to distribute to the two states the additional 45 TMCs allocated in the Krishna waters to the joint Andhra Pradesh above Nagarjunasagar for the 80 TMCs of Godavari waters diverted to the Krishna Delta, and does not fall under the purview of the Krishna Board. The AP government is seeking an additional share in the Krishna waters for the 211.065 TMC of Godavari waters being transferred by the Telangana government to the Krishna Basin. As the matter is being heard in the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal, the Krishna Board cannot allow the Telangana government to mention this issue.