Opposition to reference of Godavari water diversion issue before Krishna Water Dispute Tribunal-II

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh opposed the reference of the Godavari water diversion issue before the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II even as the tribunal held its first significant hearing with its new terms of reference (ToR) approved by the Union Cabinet.

AP, which is drawing water from the Godavari river basin and diverting it to the Krishna basin, argued that the issue should have been referred to the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal.

In response, Telangana lawyer CS Vaidyanathan argued that the issue before the tribunal was the distribution of 811 TMC of water between the two Telugu states. AP was protesting against the terms of the fresh reference given by the Center to the tribunal with the intention of continuing the ad-hoc sharing arrangement which had deprived Telangana of its due.

Officials said, “We waited for a long time and with great difficulty we could get this new reference. It would not be appropriate to continue with the ad hoc system with which a rough deal has been made with Telangana.”

The Tribunal directed AP to file the views on the effect of the reference under Gazette Notification on the current proceedings of this Tribunal before November 22 and to serve a copy of the same to the State of Telangana by November 15.

Senior advocate Jaideep Gupta, appearing for Andhra Pradesh, said the gazette notification amended the existing terms of reference which would expand the scope of the existing reference. Godavari water diversion has been included in the new reference term. But this matter will remain within the purview of the Godavari Water Dispute Tribunal. Moreover, AP had already filed a writ petition under Article 32 in the Supreme Court on the gazette notification.

He requested not to proceed with the decision as per the new gazette notification.

However, the tribunal listed the case for November 22.