Mediating Telangana’s Inter-State Issues, Pg7

Key Highlights:

• Telangana plans to raise disputes against Karnataka's unauthorized projects on the Krishna River at the 31st Southern Zonal Council (SZC) meeting.
• The state intends to invoke Section 3 of the Inter State River Water Disputes Act, 1956, to formally complain to the Union Government.
• Telangana will also demand National Project Status for its Kaleshwaram Project and Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Projects.
• Karnataka is expected to present its own grievances regarding new projects undertaken by Telangana.
• The meeting, scheduled for August 20 in Mahabalipuram, will be chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
• Unresolved issues with Andhra Pradesh, including subsidy sharing and asset division under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, are also on the agenda.

Detailed Insights:

• The Southern Zonal Council (SZC) serves as an advisory body to foster cooperation and resolve inter-state and Centre-state issues.
• Telangana argues that Karnataka's projects violate the final order of the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II, which allocated water shares among riparian states.
• Karnataka maintains that Telangana cannot undertake permanent constructions to utilize surplus Krishna river waters without proper allocation.
• The Inter State River Water Disputes Act, 1956, provides a legal framework for states to seek central intervention in river water disputes.
• Granting National Project Status would enable significant central financial assistance for large-scale irrigation projects like Kaleshwaram and Palamuru-Rangareddy.
• The Kaleshwaram Project is a multi-purpose lift irrigation project on the Godavari River, aiming to provide irrigation, drinking water, and industrial supply.
• The Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Project on the Krishna River aims to irrigate vast tracts of drought-prone land and provide drinking water in Telangana.
• Past SZC meetings have shown slow progress in resolving disputes between individual states, often focusing more on Centre-state issues.
• The dispute over asset division, particularly for institutions not explicitly listed in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, continues to be a contentious issue between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Inter State River Water Disputes Act, 1956: A parliamentary act enabling the Union Government to constitute tribunals for adjudicating water disputes between states.
• Southern Zonal Council (SZC): A statutory advisory body established under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, to promote inter-state cooperation and resolve regional issues.
• National Project Status: A designation by the Union Government for large-scale irrigation projects, making them eligible for substantial central funding and expedited completion.
• Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II: A judicial body constituted to adjudicate the sharing of Krishna River waters among Maharashtra, Karnataka, and erstwhile Andhra Pradesh.
• Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014: The parliamentary act that bifurcated the state of Andhra Pradesh into Telangana and the residuary Andhra Pradesh state.