Union Cabinet decision on Krishna water a major step forward in settling issue

hyderabad

Over nine years after formation of Telangana and the State’s formal complaint to the Centre to refer the matter of its share in the Krishna waters following bifurcation of combined Andhra Pradesh under Section 3 of the Inter State River Water Disputes Act, 1956, the Union Cabinet’s decision to refer it to the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II headed by Justice Brijesh Kumar comes as a pleasant surprise before the coming Assembly elections.

Irrespective of the timing of the decision, it is a major step forward in the State’s long fight for rightful share in the Krishna waters on the grounds that it has larger catchment area compared to AP and has larger drought-prone area within the basin. The injustice done to the Telangana region in the combined AP was recognised by KWDT-I itself and without even a reference from the then government the Tribunal had suggested construction of a project to meet needs in Mahabubnagar district (Jurala) by awarding 17 tmcft water to it voluntarily.