Brijesh Kumar panel holds key to ending Krishna water row, says Telangana Govt
Hyderabad: The TS government on Tuesday asked the Union water resources ministry to take steps to expedite the hearing at the Justice Brijesh Kumar Tribunal to finalise its jurisdiction over the Krishna-based four states. The government also said that till then, the Centre should not proceed with the notification on the Krishna River Management Board.
On Tuesday, TS minister T. Harish Rao and TRS MPs from the state along, with Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma and irrigation Special Chief Secretary S.K. Joshi met water resources ministry Special Secretary Amarjith Singh and other officials to explain to them the need to expedite the Tribunal work and avoid unnecessary controversies including over the Krishna River Management Board.
The extended Justice Brijesh Kumar Tribunal is hearing arguments on behalf of four Krishna-based states, Maharashtra, Karnataka, TS and AP to decide whether the Parliament-enacted AP Reorganisation Act is competent to decide on water allocations among TS and AP or should there be a fresh review of allocations among all four states. It has been two years since the Act was passed and the Tribunal is continuing to hear arguments.
Once the Tribunal decides on the nature of their extended jurisdiction, it will be known whether there will be fresh allocation of Krishna waters for all four states or re-distribution of 1004 tmc ft of water allotted to undivided AP among the two residuary states.
The TS delegation told the ministry that if the Tribunal work is expedited and a final decision on allocation of water is made, it will bring finality on the controversy and thereafter, the KRMB could be empowered with water regulation and monitoring as stated in the AP Reorganisation Act.
The TS delegation said that without clarity on the Tribunal Award, the KRMB cannot go ahead with water allocation and distribution, and as such, the draft notification sent by the Board to the Centre should not be accepted and must be stopped.
