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

About the water dispute between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana

• 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, NagarjunaSagar, 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.
  

Distribution of water between the two states

• The two states agreed to split the water share 66:34 on an ad hoc basis until the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-2 decided the final allocation.
• Telangana has called for a 50:50 allocation of water from the Krishna River.

How the river water disputes are resolved?

• In the case of Telangana, the 3 member dispute resolution committee could not arrive at any decision.
• Telangana wants the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-2 to permanently settle the water dispute; in the meantime.

• 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.
• 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. 

KRISHNA WATER DISPUTES TRIBUNAL-II In 2004, the Central Government has constituted Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal (KWDT) for adjudicating a dispute between the States of Maharashtra, Karnataka, and erstwhile Andhra Pradesh under Section 4 of the Inter-State River Water Dispute (ISRWD) Act, 1956. The Tribunal has given its report and decision in 2010.  Tribunal is currently hearing the disputes on matters related to the newly created State of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.