Context: Amid the ongoing Krishna river water dispute between the Telugu states, the Telangana government on July 3 declared that the state will henceforth draw 50% of the water from the Krishna river water.
Background

• After bifurcation in 2014, of the 811 TMC of water allocated to the former single state, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana were sharing water in 66:34 ratio (512 TMC and 299 TMC respectively.)
• In May 2021, the Andhra Pradesh government sanctioned a few works under the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Scheme (RLIS) which included the upgradation of Pothireddypadu head regulator canal system.
• The projects would result in Andhra drawing an additional quantity of six to eight TMCs (thousand million cubic feet) of water per day from the Srisailam reservoir on the Krishna River.
• The Pothireddypadu head regulator works, which were sanctioned by the Andhra Pradesh government in May 2020, acted as a trigger for the ongoing Krishna water dispute.
• The dispute has escalated with Andhra Pradesh demanding that Telangana stop hydel power generation at Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar projects.

What is Inter State Water Dispute?

Article 262 of the Constitution provides for the adjudication of inter-state water disputes through two provisions:

• Parliament may by law provide for the adjudication of any dispute or complaint with respect to the use, distribution and control of waters of any inter-state river and river valley.
• Parliament may also provide that neither the Supreme Court nor any other court is to exercise jurisdiction in respect of any such dispute or complaint.

Under this provision, the Parliament has enacted two laws i.e. the River Boards Act (1956) and the Inter-State Water Disputes Act (1956).

• The River Boards Act provides for the establishment of river boards for the regulation and development of Inter-state River and river valleys.
• The Inter-State Water Disputes Act empowers the Central government to set up an ad hoc tribunal for the adjudication of a dispute between two or more states in relation to the waters of an inter-state river or river valley.
• The decision of the tribunal would be final and binding on the parties to the dispute.
• Neither the Supreme Court nor any other court is to have jurisdiction in respect of any water dispute which may be referred to such a tribunal under this Act.

Additional Information

Krishna River

• Their Source: It originates near Mahabaleshwar (Satara) in Maharashtra. It is the second biggest river in peninsular India after the Godavari River.
• Drainage: It runs from four states Maharashtra (303 km), North Karnataka (480 km) and the rest of its 1300 km journey in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh before it empties into the Bay of Bengal.
• Tributaries: Tungabhadra, Mallaprabha, Koyna, Bhima, Ghataprabha, Yerla, Warna, Dindi, Musi and Dudhganga.

Godavari River

• Their Source: Godavari river rises from Trimbakeshwar near Nasik in Maharashtra and flows for a length of about 1465 km before outfalling into the Bay of Bengal.
• Drainage Basin: The Godavari basin extends over states of Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha in addition to smaller parts in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Union territory of Puducherry.
• Tributaries: Pravara, Purna, Manjra, Penganga, Wardha, Wainganga, Pranhita (combined flow of Wainganga, Penganga, Wardha), Indravati, Maner and the Sabri