1. Godavari River Water Dispute
Features of Godavari River
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Origin: Trimbakeshwar, Maharashtra
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Length: ~1,465 km (India’s second-longest river)
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States Involved: Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha
Nature of the Dispute
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Disputes over allocation of water for irrigation and hydropower projects.
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Upstream states (Maharashtra, Telangana) and downstream states (Andhra Pradesh) contest usage.
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Multiple projects proposed by Telangana and Maharashtra triggered concerns in Andhra Pradesh over reduced downstream flow.
Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT)
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Constituted in 1969, final award in 1980.
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Allocated state-wise shares of the river water.
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Promoted agreements for cooperative usage among states.
Current Status
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Still disagreements on new projects like Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme.
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Issues over compliance with tribunal awards.
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Proposals for interlinking Godavari with Krishna and Penna basins continue to spark debate.
2. Krishna River Water Dispute
Features of Krishna River
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Origin: Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra
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Length: ~1,400 km
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States Involved: Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh
Nature of the Dispute
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Contention over project construction and water allocation among riparian states.
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Conflict intensified after bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in 2014.
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Telangana argues it deserves a separate share as an independent state.
Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal – I (KWDT-I)
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Formed in 1969, award in 1973.
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Water was divided among Maharashtra, Karnataka, and unified Andhra Pradesh.
Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal – II (KWDT-II)
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Reconstituted in 2004 due to dissatisfaction with KWDT-I.
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Award in 2010, but implementation delayed by legal and political challenges.
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Did not account for Telangana's statehood, causing further complications.
Current Status
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Disputes over Rayalaseema Lift Project, Almatti Dam, and Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Project.
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Union Ministry of Jal Shakti intervenes in interstate negotiations.
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No final resolution; ongoing cases in Supreme Court and need for revised allocation post bifurcation.
3. Cauvery River Water Dispute
Features of Cauvery River
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Origin: Talakaveri, Karnataka
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Length: ~800 km
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States Involved: Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry
Nature of the Dispute
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Long-standing conflict over sharing of water during lean seasons.
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Tamil Nadu demands fixed water supply based on pre-independence agreements (1892 & 1924).
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Karnataka argues these agreements are colonial and outdated, especially due to increasing demand.
Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT)
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Set up in 1990, final award in 2007.
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Allocated shares (in TMC/year):
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Tamil Nadu: 419
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Karnataka: 270
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Kerala: 30
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Puducherry: 7
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Tribunal also recommended a Cauvery Management Board (CMB) for implementation.
Supreme Court Intervention (2018)
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Modified the CWDT award:
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Reduced Tamil Nadu’s share by 14.75 TMC
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Allocated additional water to Karnataka
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Directed formation of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA).
Current Status
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Regular disputes during drought years.
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Monsoon dependence leads to recurring conflict over storage and release from KRS and Mettur dams.
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The CWMA is functional but lacks full authority and cooperation from all states.
4. Common Challenges in All Three Disputes
A. Legal and Institutional Delays
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Tribunal awards take decades to be delivered and implemented.
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Frequent appeals and litigation delay enforcement.
B. Political Sensitivity
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Water disputes are often exploited for regional politics.
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Leads to bandhs, protests, and tensions between states.
C. Climate Variability
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Erratic monsoons and reduced river flows due to climate change complicate allocation.
D. Infrastructural Constraints
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Lack of real-time data and infrastructure for water monitoring hampers decision-making.
E. Federal Governance Gaps
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Water is a state subject, yet rivers are inter-state.
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Coordination between Centre and states remains weak.
5. Way Forward
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Strengthen River Basin Organizations with real-time data sharing.
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Enforce tribunal awards through independent implementation authorities.
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Promote inter-state dialogue and cooperation through river basin councils.
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Encourage demand-side management – water-use efficiency in agriculture.
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Use scientific tools like GIS, remote sensing for transparent water accounting.
Conclusion
The Godavari, Krishna, and Cauvery river disputes underline the urgent need for cooperative federalism in water governance. While legal mechanisms exist, their effectiveness depends on political will, scientific data, and stakeholder trust. A sustainable solution lies not only in dividing water equitably but in managing it wisely and inclusively for the future.