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Bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and the Reorganisation Act 2014 · Chapter 6

River Water Sharing

What to remember

  • The Act created two River Management Boards, one for the Krishna and one for the Godavari, to regulate water use by the two successor States. A central Apex Council was also set up to oversee the sharing.
  • Polavaram on the Godavari was declared a national project under the Act, so the Union Government takes responsibility for its completion.
  • Water sharing between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana is an interstate dispute in concept. It is handled under Article 262 and the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956, through tribunals and boards, not by one State alone.

Constitutional and legal framework

Water is a State subject in the Constitution (Entry 17 of the State List), but the regulation and development of inter-State rivers can be taken up by Parliament (Entry 56 of the Union List) when it makes a law saying so.

ProvisionContent
Article 262Parliament may provide for adjudication of disputes about inter-State rivers; it may bar the Supreme Court from hearing them
Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956Allows a tribunal to be formed when talks fail and a State asks the Centre
River Boards Act, 1956Allows the Centre to form boards for inter-State rivers (rarely used)
Entry 17, State ListWater supply, irrigation, canals, drainage
Entry 56, Union ListRegulation of inter-State rivers where Parliament declares it expedient

A tribunal's award, once published by the Centre, has the same force as an order of the Supreme Court.

Krishna and Godavari: the basic picture

Both rivers rise in the Western Ghats region of Maharashtra and flow east to the Bay of Bengal. They pass through several States.

RiverMain StatesMajor projects linked to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
KrishnaMaharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra PradeshSrisailam, Nagarjuna Sagar, Prakasam Barrage, Pulichintala
GodavariMaharashtra, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Andhra PradeshPolavaram, Dowleswaram Barrage, Sriram Sagar

The Krishna basin is a water-scarce basin in which demand is higher than supply. The Godavari is a water-surplus river whose large flows to the sea invite plans to transfer water to the Krishna basin.

Tribunals: KWDT-I and KWDT-II

A tribunal is a quasi-judicial body formed to decide how a river's water is shared.

  • Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal I (KWDT-I) was formed in 1969 under Justice R. S. Bachawat and gave its award in 1976. It divided the dependable water of the river among Maharashtra, Karnataka and the then Andhra Pradesh.
  • Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal II (KWDT-II) was formed in 2004 under Justice Brijesh Kumar. It gave a report in 2010 and a further report later after the States asked for clarification. It dealt with the shares of the three basin States and with surplus flows.
  • Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (also under Justice Bachawat) gave its award in 1980. It allowed Polavaram at an agreed height after agreements among the States concerned.

After division, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana were treated as successors to the old State's share. The question of how the old State's share should be divided between the two successors was left to the process in the Act, with the tribunal (KWDT-II) given a role under the Act.

River Management Boards under the Act

The Act directed the Centre to set up:

  • Krishna River Management Board (KRMB), and
  • Godavari River Management Board (GRMB).

Their tasks include:

  • Regulating the supply of water from projects, in line with tribunal awards and agreements.
  • Taking control of the main reservoirs and their outlet works in the manner decided by the Centre.
  • Looking after the operation of projects, power drawal and release schedules.
  • Settling day-to-day issues over water releases, to reduce disputes.

Alongside, the Act provided for an Apex Council of the Union Water Resources Minister and the Chief Ministers of both States, to oversee the Boards and the sharing of water. The Council is a coordination body, not a tribunal.

At concept level, remember: Boards manage and regulate; tribunals decide shares. The Boards do not decide the final share of water; they follow what tribunals and agreements say.

Polavaram as a national project

  • Polavaram is a multipurpose project on the Godavari (also called Indira Sagar Polavaram).
  • Its aims include irrigation, drinking water, hydropower and diversion of Godavari water to the Krishna system through a right canal.
  • The Act declared it a national project, so the Union Government is responsible for executing it. A Polavaram Project Authority was formed for this.
  • The project spreads over Andhra Pradesh and affects areas in neighbouring States. Rehabilitation of affected families, especially tribal families, and compensation are major issues.
  • Telangana and other States raised objections about submergence of some areas. These matters have been taken to the Supreme Court and other forums. Do not state status as a fact; use neutral language.
  • Spillway, cofferdam and canal work are among the main components.

Pattiseema lift scheme

  • Pattiseema is a lift irrigation scheme on the Godavari that lifts water and carries it into the Polavaram right canal and then to the Krishna system.
  • The scheme transfers Godavari water to the Krishna delta, so that Krishna water can be kept for upstream needs.
  • It was taken up after the division as an interim measure while Polavaram was incomplete.
  • Telangana and others questioned whether such diversion should be counted in the share of the State. The legal discussion is about whether diversion of Godavari water to the Krishna basin should give credit to the State against its Krishna share. Details depend on tribunal awards and agreements.

Telangana lift projects and the dispute

After division, both States planned new lifts on shared rivers.

  • Telangana planned projects such as Palamuru-Rangareddy and Kaleshwaram (the latter on the Godavari) to take water to its dry areas.
  • Andhra Pradesh planned works such as the Rayalaseema lift scheme and improvements to outlets from Srisailam.
  • Each State argued that the other's project did not have a proper approval or took more than its share. Complaints were made to the Boards, the Apex Council, the Central Water Commission and courts.
  • A common point is whether a new project needs approval of the Boards and the Apex Council. The Centre has stated that new projects on the two rivers need such clearance, as laid down in the Act.

Treat these as concept questions. In exams, write: "the States disagreed on shares, approvals and operation of projects, and sought resolution through the Boards, the Centre and tribunals."

Key ideas for dispute questions

  • Dependable flow: tribunals usually divide a river on the basis of water that is available in most years (dependable flow). Surplus flows are treated separately.
  • Riparian principle: States through which a river passes have claims on it. Upper and lower riparian States often differ in views. Maharashtra and Karnataka are upper riparian States of the Krishna; Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are lower.
  • Within one basin, the Telangana side lies upstream of the Andhra delta area. This is why release of water from Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar is a sensitive matter.
  • Hydropower versus irrigation: drawing water for power can reduce water available later for crops. This also leads to disputes between the two States.
  • Awards and agreements: the final basis for any claim is a tribunal award, an agreement among States or a decision of the Apex Council or courts.
  • Dispute resolution ladder: talks between States, then the Boards and Apex Council, then the Centre, then a tribunal, then the Supreme Court on points of law.

Exam traps

  • Boards regulate; tribunals decide shares. Do not mix them up.
  • KWDT-I was under Justice Bachawat; KWDT-II was under Justice Brijesh Kumar.
  • The Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal also had Justice Bachawat as head.
  • Polavaram is on the Godavari; Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar are on the Krishna.
  • Pattiseema lifts Godavari water to the Krishna system; it is not a Krishna project.
  • Article 262 is about disputes on inter-State rivers; Article 263 is about the Inter-State Council.
  • A tribunal's published award binds the States; a Board follows it.
  • Kaleshwaram is on the Godavari and Palamuru-Rangareddy draws on the Krishna.

One-liners

  • The Act provided for a Krishna River Management Board.
  • The Act provided for a Godavari River Management Board.
  • An Apex Council oversees the Boards.
  • Polavaram is a national project on the Godavari.
  • Article 262 deals with inter-State river disputes.
  • The Inter-State River Water Disputes Act was passed in 1956.
  • KWDT-I was headed by Justice Bachawat.
  • KWDT-II was headed by Justice Brijesh Kumar.
  • The Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal gave its award in 1980.
  • Pattiseema is a lift scheme on the Godavari.
  • Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar are on the Krishna.
  • Water is a State subject, but inter-State rivers can be regulated by Parliament.

Practice questions

  1. The Act of 2014 provided for River Management Boards for which two rivers?

    1. Krishna and Godavari
    2. Penna and Vamsadhara
    3. Godavari and Penna
    4. Krishna and Tungabhadra
    Answer

    A. Krishna and Godavari

    The Act provided for KRMB and GRMB.

  2. Polavaram project is built on which river?

    1. Krishna
    2. Tungabhadra
    3. Penna
    4. Godavari
    Answer

    D. Godavari

    Polavaram is on the Godavari.

  3. Under the Act, Polavaram was declared a

    1. national project
    2. local body project
    3. state-level scheme
    4. private project
    Answer

    A. national project

    The Act made it a national project executed by the Union Government.

  4. Which Article of the Constitution deals with adjudication of inter-State river water disputes?

    1. Article 280
    2. Article 262
    3. Article 356
    4. Article 263
    Answer

    B. Article 262

    Article 262 provides for adjudication of inter-State river disputes.

  5. The Inter-State River Water Disputes Act was passed in

    1. 1976
    2. 1969
    3. 1950
    4. 1956
    Answer

    D. 1956

    It was enacted in 1956.

  6. KWDT-I was headed by

    1. Justice Brijesh Kumar
    2. Justice R. S. Bachawat
    3. Justice B. N. Srikrishna
    4. Justice Sarkaria
    Answer

    B. Justice R. S. Bachawat

    The first Krishna tribunal was under Justice Bachawat.

  7. KWDT-II was headed by

    1. Justice Brijesh Kumar
    2. Justice Y. V. Chandrachud
    3. Justice Sarkaria
    4. Justice R. S. Bachawat
    Answer

    A. Justice Brijesh Kumar

    The second Krishna tribunal was under Justice Brijesh Kumar.

  8. Which of these is on the Krishna river?

    1. Nagarjuna Sagar
    2. Sriram Sagar
    3. Polavaram
    4. Dowleswaram Barrage
    Answer

    A. Nagarjuna Sagar

    Nagarjuna Sagar and Srisailam are on the Krishna; the others are on the Godavari.

  9. Which of these is on the Godavari?

    1. Pulichintala
    2. Dowleswaram Barrage
    3. Prakasam Barrage
    4. Srisailam
    Answer

    B. Dowleswaram Barrage

    Dowleswaram is a Godavari barrage.

  10. The Pattiseema scheme is a

    1. dam on the Krishna
    2. tank on the Tungabhadra
    3. canal on the Penna
    4. lift scheme on the Godavari
    Answer

    D. lift scheme on the Godavari

    Pattiseema lifts Godavari water towards the Krishna system.

  11. Boards and tribunals differ because

    1. Boards decide shares while tribunals operate projects
    2. Boards regulate operation while tribunals decide shares
    3. both only fix taxes
    4. both are courts of appeal
    Answer

    B. Boards regulate operation while tribunals decide shares

    Tribunals adjudicate shares; Boards regulate and manage.

  12. Water supply and irrigation are listed in

    1. Entry 56 of the State List
    2. Concurrent List Entry 1
    3. Entry 17 of the State List
    4. Entry 17 of the Union List
    Answer

    C. Entry 17 of the State List

    Water is a State subject under Entry 17 of the State List.

  13. Regulation of inter-State rivers by Parliament is under

    1. Entry 56 of the Union List
    2. Entry 1 of the Concurrent List
    3. Entry 17 of the State List
    4. Entry 97 of the Union List
    Answer

    A. Entry 56 of the Union List

    Parliament may regulate inter-State rivers when it declares it expedient.

  14. An Apex Council under the Act oversees

    1. Panchayati Raj
    2. Lok Sabha elections
    3. the Boards and water sharing between the two States
    4. the Finance Commission
    Answer

    C. the Boards and water sharing between the two States

    The Apex Council includes the Union minister and the Chief Ministers of both States.

  15. Which Authority was formed to execute Polavaram under the Act?

    1. Pattiseema Authority
    2. Krishna Basin Commission
    3. Polavaram Finance Board
    4. Polavaram Project Authority
    Answer

    D. Polavaram Project Authority

    The Act provided for the Polavaram Project Authority.

  16. The Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal gave its award in

    1. 1956
    2. 1980
    3. 1969
    4. 2013
    Answer

    B. 1980

    The award was given around 1980.

  17. Kaleshwaram lift project is on the river

    1. Vamsadhara
    2. Krishna
    3. Godavari
    4. Penna
    Answer

    C. Godavari

    Kaleshwaram draws water from the Godavari.

  18. Palamuru-Rangareddy lift draws from

    1. the Penna river
    2. the Godavari at Polavaram
    3. the Vamsadhara
    4. the Krishna basin
    Answer

    D. the Krishna basin

    It lifts Krishna water for Telangana's dry areas.

  19. The Krishna and Godavari both rise in

    1. Maharashtra
    2. Odisha
    3. Chhattisgarh
    4. Karnataka
    Answer

    A. Maharashtra

    Both rise in the Western Ghats region of Maharashtra.

  20. Upstream riparian States of the Krishna include

    1. Maharashtra and Karnataka
    2. Bihar and Jharkhand
    3. Tamil Nadu and Kerala
    4. Odisha and Chhattisgarh
    Answer

    A. Maharashtra and Karnataka

    They lie upstream of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

  21. A tribunal award, once notified, has the force of

    1. a cabinet note
    2. a Governor's circular
    3. an order of the Supreme Court
    4. a municipal by-law
    Answer

    C. an order of the Supreme Court

    Under the 1956 Act the published award has the force of a Supreme Court order.

  22. Why is Godavari water diverted to the Krishna system?

    1. The Krishna is a larger river
    2. The Krishna has no dams
    3. The Godavari is dry
    4. The Krishna basin is water-scarce while the Godavari has larger flows
    Answer

    D. The Krishna basin is water-scarce while the Godavari has larger flows

    Surplus Godavari flows can support the water-scarce Krishna basin.

  23. Which is the first step in the dispute resolution ladder?

    1. Presidential Rule
    2. Talks between the States concerned
    3. Supreme Court judgment
    4. Finance Commission award
    Answer

    B. Talks between the States concerned

    Talks come first, then Boards, the Centre, a tribunal and the Supreme Court on points of law.

  24. Which of these is NOT a function of a River Management Board?

    1. Awarding final shares of river water
    2. Looking after project operation
    3. Regulating release of water
    4. Settling day-to-day release issues
    Answer

    A. Awarding final shares of river water

    Final shares are decided by tribunals.

  25. Which Article is about the Inter-State Council and is often confused with Article 262?

    1. Article 266
    2. Article 265
    3. Article 264
    4. Article 263
    Answer

    D. Article 263

    Article 263 is the Inter-State Council.

  26. Major issues in Polavaram include

    1. absence of a river
    2. tax on tolls
    3. rehabilitation of affected families and submergence concerns
    4. lack of any water
    Answer

    C. rehabilitation of affected families and submergence concerns

    Rehabilitation, compensation and submergence concerns have been raised.

  27. A common source of dispute between the two States is

    1. salary of judges
    2. approval and operation of new lift projects
    3. the use of Telugu language
    4. design of the State emblem
    Answer

    B. approval and operation of new lift projects

    Shares, approvals and operation are major concerns.

  28. Which river's delta lies in the area served by Prakasam Barrage?

    1. Penna
    2. Nagavali
    3. Godavari
    4. Krishna
    Answer

    D. Krishna

    Prakasam Barrage is on the Krishna at Vijayawada.

  29. The right canal of Polavaram is meant to

    1. supply water to Delhi
    2. carry Godavari water towards the Krishna
    3. carry Krishna water to Telangana
    4. drain rainwater to the Penna
    Answer

    B. carry Godavari water towards the Krishna

    The right canal links the Godavari to the Krishna system.

  30. Dependable flow means

    1. only flood flow
    2. water available in most years
    3. water in the driest year only
    4. rainfall in one month
    Answer

    B. water available in most years

    Tribunals divide the dependable flow, treating surplus flows separately.

  31. Statements: 1. The Act provided for a Krishna River Management Board. 2. The Act provided for a Godavari River Management Board.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both Boards are provided for in the Act.

  32. Statements: 1. Water is a State subject. 2. Parliament can regulate inter-State rivers.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both are correct under the State and Union Lists.

  33. Statements: 1. Polavaram is on the Krishna. 2. Polavaram is a national project.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    B. 2 only

    Polavaram is on the Godavari.

  34. Statements: 1. KWDT-I was headed by Justice Bachawat. 2. KWDT-II was headed by Justice Brijesh Kumar.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both are correct.

  35. Statements: 1. Tribunals adjudicate shares. 2. Boards decide the final share of water.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    A. 1 only

    Boards manage; tribunals adjudicate.

  36. Statements: 1. Pattiseema lifts Godavari water. 2. Pattiseema is a Krishna dam.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    A. 1 only

    It is a lift scheme on the Godavari.

  37. Statements: 1. Article 262 deals with inter-State river disputes. 2. Article 263 deals with the Inter-State Council.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both are correct.

  38. Statements: 1. Palamuru-Rangareddy is on the Godavari at Polavaram. 2. Kaleshwaram is on the Godavari.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    B. 2 only

    Palamuru-Rangareddy draws on the Krishna basin.

  39. Statements: 1. A tribunal's published award has the force of a Supreme Court order. 2. The Apex Council is a tribunal.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    A. 1 only

    The Apex Council is a coordination body, not a tribunal.

  40. Statements: 1. Srisailam is on the Krishna. 2. Dowleswaram Barrage is on the Godavari.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both are correct.

  41. Statements: 1. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are upstream of Karnataka. 2. Maharashtra and Karnataka are upstream riparian States of the Krishna.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    B. 2 only

    Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are downstream of Karnataka.

  42. Statements: 1. Surplus flows are treated separately by tribunals. 2. Dependable flow means water available in most years.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both are correct.

  43. Statements: 1. The Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal was also headed by Justice Bachawat. 2. It gave its award after KWDT-II.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    A. 1 only

    The Godavari award was around 1980, long before KWDT-II.

  44. Statements: 1. The Polavaram Project Authority was provided for in the Act. 2. Rehabilitation of affected families is a concern in the project.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both are correct.

  45. Which authority can an aggrieved State approach when talks fail under the 1956 Act?

    1. The Governor
    2. The Press Council
    3. The Election Commission
    4. The Central Government to form a tribunal
    Answer

    D. The Central Government to form a tribunal

    A State may ask the Centre to refer the dispute to a tribunal.

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