Inter-state water disputes be put to rest at earliest: SC

New Delhi, March 27

Supreme Court today asked states like Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka to file their submissions on the Krishna water dispute within three weeks, saying such matters like inter-state water disputes should be “put to rest at the earliest”.

“We are apprised at the bar that pleadings have not been completed. Let it be completed within three weeks from today. None of parties shall be given extension of time.

“Such kind of disputes should be put to rest at the earliest. The court has a constitutional duty to decide such cases at the earliest,” a Bench of justices Dipak Misra and Prafulla C Pant said.

The court also said if any state failed to file written submission within the stipulated time, even then it would proceed with the matter.

Andhra Pradesh had moved the court against the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal award on allocation of water involving states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra. Later, Telangana was impleaded as a party in the bitter fight over the water sharing.

Earlier, the court had issued notices on a batch of petitions filed on the issue.

Andhra Pradesh has challenged two awards of the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal passed in 2011 and 2013.

In one of the awards, the tribunal had permitted Karnataka to raise the height of the Almatti dam from 519.6 metres to 524.25 metres.

The tribunal has erred in permitting Karnataka to raise the height of the dam which would be detrimental to the rights and interests of people of Andhra Pradesh, the plea had said.

Telangana also disputes the awards. — PTI