The Hindu : Centre delaying tribunal to favour Andhra Pradesh?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 08, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

Centre delaying tribunal to favour Andhra Pradesh?

By M. Madan Mohan

HUBLI March 7. Why is the Union Government dragging its feet on the appointment of a new tribunal in terms of the provisions of the Inter-State Water Disputes Act to decide on sharing of the surplus waters in the Krishna Basin?

There has been a vacuum of sorts ever since the deadline for the use of the waters allocated by the Bachawat Tribunal to Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh expired in May 2000. There is now no authority which can go into any dispute.

In April 2000, the Supreme Court, while disposing of the petitions filed by Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, said that claims for a higher share could be looked into by the new tribunal, which it said could be appointed by the Union Government on a "complaint" from one of the three States.

The Supreme Court reiterated the stand last year, when Karnataka made a vain bid to seek its intervention to restrain Andhra Pradesh from going ahead with plans to utilise surplus waters, the quantum of which is yet to be determined.

In view of the complex nature of the issue and the conflicting stand taken by the riparian States in general, particularly Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, many expected that the Centre would take suo motu action to constitute the tribunal. It was thought that if this was not possible, it would take steps to convene a meeting of the States concerned to reach a consensus.

There has been no suo motu initiative on the part of the Centre. It has also failed to respond quickly to belated requests from the States for constituting the tribunal.

Karnataka was the first to make a request. The action came belatedly, nearly two years after the expiry of the time given for the utilisation of the allocations by the Bachawat Tribunal. Andhra Pradesh, which perhaps waited for Karnataka to make the first move, followed suit after some hesitation. The Centre is required to take action within one year of a request from a State government in terms of the amended provisions of the Inter-State Water Disputes Act. Karnataka's complaint is more than six months old. There is no sign that the Centre has taken any action.

The delay poses a danger to Karnataka. The State is grappling with the problem of fully utilising the water allocated it by the Bachawat Tribunal. Karnataka is concentrating on ensuring the full utilisation of water allocated by the Bachawat Tribunal. It does not have the time, the financial sinews, or the political will to execute projects to utilise surplus waters which might be allotted to it.

For Andhra Pradesh, things are different. It has already fully utilised its share of water, and is going ahead with the projects designed to use surplus waters. In the absence of any authority to regulate the implementation of projects, that State can go ahead despite the objections raised by Karnataka.

Karnataka is justifiably worried over the delay in the constitution of the tribunal and the implication of projects taken up by Andhra Pradesh on the crucial issue of determination of surplus water.

Is the NDA Government at the Centre trying to oblige the alliance partner, Telugu Desam Party, by delaying the constitution of the tribunal as far as possible?

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