Chief Justice of India NV Ramana has recused to hear the Krishna River dispute after Andhra Pradesh government said no to his suggestion to go for the mediation. Andhra Pradesh alleged that Telangana government has deprived it of its legitimate share of drinking and irrigation water from Krishna river.
Now, the matter has been listed before another bench.
During the last hearing on August 2, CJI Ramana suggested mediation to settle the dispute while stating that it didn’t want to interfere unnecessarily.
“I don’t want to hear this matter legally. I belong to both the states (Andhra Pradesh and Telangana). If the matter can be settled in mediation, please do that. We can help with that. Otherwise I will transfer this to another Bench,” said CJI Ramana.
Andhra Pradesh government recently filed a petition claiming that the Telangana government refused to follow the decisions taken by the Apex Council constituted under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014, the directions of Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) formed under this Act, and the Centre’s directives.
Fundamental Rights Seriously Impaired and Infringed
In the petition, it is alleged that the fundamental right to life of the people of Andhra Pradesh was seriously impaired and infringed as they are deprived of their “legitimate share of water” due to “unconstitutional, illegal and unjust” acts of the Telangana government and its officials.
“This has caused immense hardship for people of Andhra Pradesh as availability of water has been seriously prejudiced by depletion in Srisailam Dam project as well as other projects such as the Nagarjuna Sagar Project and the Pulichintala Project,” the petition stated.
The petitioner has urged the Supreme Court to issue directions to the Centre to take control of the common reservoirs of Srisailam, Nagarjunasagar and also Pulichintala reservoirs along with all their outlets and operate the same as per the rules in vogue as per the binding award.
