Telangana calls for enforcing Clause VII of Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal

Consumptive use of water refers to the portion of water that is used and not returned to its original source. This includes water that evaporates, becomes part of products or crops, or is consumed by people or animals, making it unavailable for reuse in the same form. Understanding consumptive use is essential for effective water management, as it helps assess the true demand and availability of water resources.

Hyderabad: The Telangana government has urged the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) to enforce Clause VII of the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-I (KWDT-I) to ensure proper allocation of water resources. This clause mandates that only 20 percent of water drawn for drinking purposes is considered consumptive use.

Consumptive use of water refers to the portion of water that is consumed during its use and not returned to its source. This includes water that evaporates, is incorporated into products or crops, or is consumed by people or animals, making it unavailable for further use in the same form. For effective water management, taking consumptive use into consideration is crucial as it helps determine the actual demand and availability of water resources.

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The State highlighted that this principle is being followed in other Tribunal awards, and KRMB’s delay in implementing this clause has resulted in Telangana losing around 31.952 TMC of water annually and over 320 TMCs of its water share during the last 10 years.

The State has for the last 10 years been insisting on equitable distribution of Krishna water between the two Telugu States. It would be possible only by addressing such issues. In the 17th Board meeting, the KRMB chairman noted the lack of consensus on this issue, suggesting a referral to KWDT-II.

The State officials however emphasize that according to Section 85(8)(a) of the AP Reorganization Act, 2014, KRMB must regulate Krishna water distribution among Andhra Pradesh and Telangana based on Tribunal Awards. Clause VII of KWDT-I clearly states that only 20% of water drawn for drinking purposes should be considered as consumptive use, and thus, reaching a consensus on this matter is unnecessary.

The Telangana government highlighted that this principle is being followed in other Tribunal awards and KRMB’s delay in implementing this clause has resulted in Telangana losing considerably

The state is now pressing for the immediate implementation of this provision to rectify the prolonged loss and ensure fair distribution of water resources aligning with inter-state agreements and KWDT-I’s final order.

The legal and regulatory framework are supportive of the conclusion that only 20% of water drawn for drinking purposes is considered consumptive use, with the remaining 80% expected to return to the water system in various forms.

Other tribunals managing water disputes in India, such as the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT), the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT), and the Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal (NWDT), also address consumptive use clauses in their orders.