Polavaram Project Dispute & Inter-State Water Governance
Latest Update (2024): Centre forms high-level technical committee to resolve AP-Telangana water sharing issues.
1. Polavaram Project: Key Facts
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Godavari River at Polavaram, Andhra Pradesh (Eastern Ghats) |
| Objectives | Irrigation (7.2 lakh acres), Hydropower (960 MW), Drinking water, Diversion to Krishna Basin (drought-prone Rayalaseema) |
| Constitutional Status | National Project (2014) - 90% funding by Centre |
| Telangana's Claim | AP violating AP Reorganisation Act, 2014: Unilateral water diversion affects Telangana's share |
| Environmental Issues | Displacement of 1.5 lakh tribals, submergence in Chhattisgarh/Odisha |
2. Inter-State Water Dispute Resolution Framework
Constitutional & Legal Provisions
| Provision | Significance |
|---|---|
| Article 262 | Parliament can bar SC jurisdiction; enacted ISRWD Act, 1956 |
| Entry 56 (Union List) | Centre regulates inter-state rivers |
| ISRWD Act, 1956 | Establishes Tribunals (e.g., Krishna, Godavari Tribunals) |
| River Boards Act, 1956 | Creates River Boards for advisory/development roles (e.g., Krishna River Management Board) |
Tribunal vs. River Board
| Feature | Water Disputes Tribunal | River Board |
|---|---|---|
| Function | Adjudication (binding award) | Advisory/Development |
| Composition | Judges + technical experts | Centre + State officials + experts |
| Enforcement | Award = SC decree | Recommendations non-binding |
| Example | Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal | KRMB (Krishna River Mgmt. Board) |
3. Current Conflict & Committee (2024)
- Telangana's Grievance: AP diverting water via Pattiseema Lift Scheme (Godavari-Krishna link) without consent.
- Centre's Response: High-level committee to examine technical/legal compliance with AP Reorganisation Act, 2014.
- Broader Implication: Tests cooperative federalism; may set precedent for inter-state disputes (e.g., Cauvery, Ravi-Beas).
4. UPSC Syllabus Integration
| GS Paper | Linkage |
|---|---|
| GS 2 | Federalism (inter-state disputes), Centre-State relations, Statutory bodies (KRMB) |
| GS 3 | Water resource management, Infrastructure (national projects) |
| GS 1 | Regional planning (Godavari-Krishna basins), Tribal displacement |
| Law Optional | Constitutional law (Art. 262), Interstate River Water Disputes Act |
5. Key Concepts & Terms
- Equitable Apportionment: Doctrine for fair water sharing (Krishna Tribunal).
- KRMB: Joint AP-Telangana body under Centre for Krishna water allocation.
- National Project Status: Full central funding for Polavaram (pending since 2014).