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Godavari Water Dispute Tribunal

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The Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT) headed by Justice Bachawat was constituted by the Government of India in April 1969. After considering the matter, the Tribunal gave its award in July, 1980. In fact, this award referred to a series of agreements among the party states. Brief details of such agreements are given here. According to the award:

  • The agreement on Polavaram Project provides for diversion of 2,266 Mm3 of the Godavari Water from Polavaram Project to Krishna River upstream of Vijayawada Anicut. The water thus diverted in the Krishna will be shared among Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.     
           
         Allocation of Godavari water by GWDT among three states 

  • State

    Flow

    In TMC

    In MCM

    Andhra Pradesh

    45

    1,274.4

    Karnataka & Maharashtra

    35

    991.2

    Total

    80

    2,265.6

  • The Inchampalli Multipurpose Project will be a joint venture of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh and will be executed and operated under the directions of a Tripartite Inter-State Control Board. The cost of storage, power and benefits will be shared by these States in agreed proportions. Andhra Pradesh is allowed to divert 2,407 Mm3 of waters from Inchampalli Reservoir for its use. The remaining available water is to be used for power generation at Inchampalli Power House. After hydropower generation, Andhra Pradesh can use water in any manner.

  • As per the award any alteration, amendment or modification to any of the provision of the Tribunal can be made by agreement between the party States or by legislation of Parliament.

 

DISCUSSIONS OF 6.10.1975

A meeting between the chief ministers of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh was held in Hyderabad on the 6th October 1975. The discussions related to the clearance of the projects and the use of waters of Godavari River and its tributaries. After discussions, the following points were agreed to:

  1. Maharashtra can use for their beneficial use all waters up to the Paithan dam site on the Godavari and up to Siddheswar dam site on the Purna.
  2. (i) From the waters in the area of Godavari basin below the Paithan dam site on the Godavari    and below the Siddeswar dam site on the Purna and below the Nizamsagar dam site on the Manjra and up to Pochampad dam site on the Godavari, Maharashtra can utilize waters not exceeding 1,700 Mm3 for new projects including any additional use over and above the present sanctioned or cleared utilization, as the case may be.

(ii) Andhra Pradesh can go ahead with building its Pochampad Project with FRL 1,091 and MWL 1,093 and is free to utilize all remaining waters up to the Pochampad dam site in any manner it chooses for its beneficial use.

3.  (i) In the Manjira sub-basin above the Nizamsagar dam site, Maharashtra can utilize waters not   exceeding 623 Mm3 for new projects including any additional use over and above the present sanctioned or cleared utilisation as the case may be.

(ii) Andhra Pradesh can withdraw 113 Mm3 for drinking water supply to Hyderabad city from their proposed Singur project on the Manjira.

(iii) Andhra Pradesh can construct Singur project with a storage capacity of 850 Mm3. Andhra Pradesh can also use 1,443 Mm3 under Nizamsagar project.

  1. Maharashtra concurs with the agreement arrived at between the States of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka in regard to the use proposed by Karnataka in the Manjira sub-basin upstream of the Nizamsagar dam site.
  2. Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh will be free to use an additional quantity of 8,496 Mm3 of water each below the Pochampad dam site for new projects.
  3. Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh agree in principle to the taking up of the Inchampalli Project with FRL as commonly agreed to by the interested States, viz., Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
  4. Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh agree to take up the joint projects at the appropriate time with agreed utilization: Lendi Project, Lower Penganga Project, and Pranhit Project, and to set up joint committees for this purpose.
  5. The States of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh agree that this agreement will be furnished to the Government of India and a report will be submitted before the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal at the appropriate time.

 

DISCUSSIONS OF 7.11.1975

In this meeting between the chief ministers of the Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh held at New Delhi, discussions related to the clearance of the projects and use of the water of Godavari River and its tributaries. After discussions, the following points were agreed.

 

1.      Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh will be free to use an additional gross quantity of 8,496 Mm3 each, out of the water in the Godavari River and its tributaries below the Pochampad Dam site for new projects.

2.      Madhya Pradesh concurs generally with the agreement between Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra on 6-10-1975. The quantity of the 8,496 Mm3 mentioned in clause I above will not be in addition to 8,496 Mm3 already agreed between Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.

3.      In agreeing to 8,496 Mm3 referred to in clauses I and II above, for Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh on its part, has taken into account the estimated requirements within the basin only.

4.      Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh agree in principle to the taking up of the Inchampalli project with F.R.L., as commonly agreed to by the interested states, viz., Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

5.      It is also agreed that Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh will consider the feasibility of taking up the Inchampalli project as a joint project with costs and benefits equitably shared amongst the above 3 States in accordance with a common agreement.

6.      Madhya Pradesh agrees to the taking up of Taliperu project by Andhra Pradesh involving the use of 142 Mm3 (Gross) of water out of the 8,496 Mm3 agreed to in Clause I and to the submersion of river bed only in Madhya Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh agrees to put up at its cost such protective measures as would be necessary in consultation with Madhya Pradesh to prevent submersion of other areas in Madhya Pradesh.

7.      The States of Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh agree that nothing in this agreement will be treated as a concession by either state in respect of any of their contentions in any other water dispute with any other state or with respect to the dispute regarding the sharing of the balance of water in Godavari and its tributaries.

8.      The States of Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh agree that this agreement will be furnished to the Government of India and they would be requested to expedite the clearance of the projects. This Agreement will also be jointly filed before the GWDT at the appropriate time. 

 

DISCUSSIONS OF 9.12.1975

In the meeting between the chief ministers of Orissa and Madhya Pradesh held at New Delhi, the discussions related to the use of waters of Godavari River and the clearance of the projects of Orissa and Madhya Pradesh. After discussions the following agreement was reached:

  •  Pending final allocation of the Godavari water, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa will be free to use additional gross quantity of 8,496 Mm3 and 5,664 Mm3 respectively, out of the water of the Goadvari basin below the Pochampad Dam site for new projects in such manner as they deem fit.

  • In agreeing to 5,664 Mm3 referred to in Clause I for Orissa, Madhya Pradesh on its part has taken into account the estimated requirements within the basin only. All the utilization by Orissa and Madhya Pradesh contemplated in the various Clauses shall be only as a part of the 5,664 Mm3 and 8,496 Mm3, respectively, agreed to in Clause I above. The States of Orissa and Madhya Pradesh will not be entitled on the basis of the subsequent Clauses to utilize in any way more than 5,664 Mm3 and 8,496 Mm3, respectively.

  • Below the dam sites of the Upper Indravati Project, as proposed by Orissa, there is a catchment area of about 4,800 sq. km in the Indravati sub-basin up to the Orissa border with Madhya Pradesh. From this catchment there is some natural flow across the Jaura Nallah to Sabari (Kolab) River. It was agreed that Orissa will ensure at its border with Madhya Pradesh a flow of 1,274 Mm3 in the Indravati and its tributaries at 75% dependability for use by Madhya Pradesh. In the years of shortage, the shortage will be shared proportionately between the two states and the assurance of flow in the Indravati and its tributaries, referred to above, will stand proportionately reduced. Both the states agree to joint gauging at suitable points to ascertain the yield data and to ensure the flow of 1,274 Mm3 at 75% dependability of the proportionately reduced flow in years of shortage that has to flow below the common border. The figure of 1,274 Mm3 is on the assumption of total yield of 5,777 Mm3 from the Indravati sub-­basin in Orissa and 2,577 Mm3 utilization for the Upper Indravati Project. If the assessment of 5,777 Mm3 is found to be high and the correct figure is lower than 5,777 Mm3 and the utilization for the Upper Indravati Project gets reduced from the figure of 2,577 Mm3 then the figure of 1,274 Mm3 will get reduced in the same proportion.

  • In view of the agreement incorporated in the above clauses, Madhya Pradesh agrees to the clearance and execution of Upper Indravati Project, as proposed and submitted by Orissa to the Government of India. Orissa also agrees to the clearance and execution of Bodhghat Project, as may be modified by Madhya Pradesh taking into account the water availability specified in Clause III.
                                                                          

DISCUSSIONS OF 19.12.1975

On the basis of a series of discussions held between the representatives of the States of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh, an agreement was arrived at regarding the sub-basin wise allocation of the waters of the Godavari and its tributaries downstream of the Pochampad Dam in the States of Andhra Pradesh, the projects therein and other allied matters taking into consideration the allocations already agreed to.