AP can’t stop Telangana from using 90 TMC water in Palamuru-Rangareddy, says Krishna Water Tribunal
With this direction, the main obstacle in obtaining approval for the DPR of PRLIS from the Central Water Commission (CWC) has been cleared
- Telangana
NewsTAP Bureau- Updated On:20 Sep 2023 7:22 AM GMT
NEW DELHI: Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal -II (KWDT-II) appointed to adjudicate disputes between the States of Maharashtra, Karnataka and erstwhile Andhra Pradesh under Section 4 of the Inter-State River Water Dispute (ISRWD) Act, 1956, has advised Andhra Pradesh to address its concerns over the Palamuru Ranga Reddy Lift Irrigation Project (PRLIS) to an appropriate forum.
The adjudicating authority said that it had no jurisdiction to pass orders over the issues raised by Andhra Pradesh through an Interlocutory Application (IA) filed by it on December 18, 2022.
AP pleaded the adjudicating authority to restrain Telangana from giving effect to GO Rt No 246 dated 18-08-2022 and restrain Telangana from utilising 90 TMC in PRLIS out of 75 percent dependable flows from Srisailam reservoir.
KWDT-II Chairman Justice Brijesh Kumar; members Justice Ram Mohan Reddy and Justice S Talapatra heard voluminous documents filed and arguments of both sides.
On February 2, 2023, Telangana Government filed counter to the IA and later rejoinder by AP, and a surrejoinder by Telangana. Hearings concluded on July 14, 2023, and orders were reserved by the Tribunal. On Wednesday, the Chairman pronounced the order that KWDT-II does not have jurisdiction to hear the IA, giving liberty to AP to move appropriate forums.
With this direction, the main obstacle in obtaining approval for the DPR of PRLIS from the Central Water Commission (CWC) had been cleared as earlier CWC was not taking up the issue citing the sub judice clause, a senior TS irrigation expert said.
From Telangana, senior counsel CS Vaidyanathan, advocate on Record Nikhil Swamy, advocate Harish Vaidyanatahan and other lawyers and superintending engineer R Koteshwar Rao, executive engineer S Vijaya Kumar and dy executive engineer N Ravi Shankar appeared in the proceedings. From A.P., senior counsel Umapathi, Srinivas, and other lawyers and senior engineers Srinivas and Ravikumar and others appeared
