Maharashtra, Andhra lock Horns over Water Accord

By Vijay Lakshmi

A war of words has broken out between Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra over alleged violation of a water accord. Even as the Maharashtra government lodged a complaint with the central water commission (CWC) against Andhra’s move to implement the Rs 38,000—crore Pranahita—Chevella project, the southern state has firmly denied any violation of water agreement between the states. For Andhra, the project is vital as it promises to irrigate 18 lakh acres in the arid Telangana region.

Both states are already battling it out over the Babali dam issue, in which Andhra has opposed Maharashtra’s move to build small dams — called Upper Babali — on the Godavari. While the issue still remains unresolved, the Pranahita—Chevella row is going to complicate the matter further. In its letter to the CWC, the Maharashtra government last week pointed out that Andhra Pradesh at no point informed the state about the Pranahita—Chevella project even though it’s mandatory to seek prior approval of all the states along the river bank. Sensing a loss, the state has requested the Centre to stop the project work.

Andhra, on its part, has shrugged off Maharashtra’s claim. “There is no violation of the Godavari water—sharing agreement with Maharashtra,” an Andhra government spokesperson said. The urgency of the issue can be gauged from the fact that chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy took up the matter with minister for irrigation, Ponnala Laxmaiah, in Hyderabad recently. “We are ready to furnish all the details related to the project if the water commission seeks them,” Mr Laxmaiah said after the meeting.

The Andhra government thinks that it acted well within the parameters laid down by the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal and inter—state agreements when it went ahead with the project. According to it, Maharashtra has already approved the project in its existing form. The Andhra government also claims that irrigation projects like Penganga, Lendi and Pranahita—Chevella are part of the inter—state water—sharing agreements and it has taken Orissa and Chhattisgarh governments into confidence over other water—sharing projects.

Some, however, say Maharashtra may use the project as a tool to counter Andhra’s opposition to Babali, the project the Maharashtra government is keen to go ahead with. Having faced some resistance from Andhra, the Upper Babali project has landed in the CWC court. Andhra’s assessment is that Maharashtra has drawn enough Godavari water and there is no quota available for the state.