SupremeCourt Clears Path for Polavaram Project Expansion
The Supreme Court of India delivered a crucial ruling today regarding the Polavaram Multipurpose Project, significantly impacting the legal standoff between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi disposed of a writ petition filed by the Telangana government, which had challenged the expansion and central funding of the project. This move provides a temporary legal reprieve for the ongoing construction activities in Andhra Pradesh.
During the hearing, the apex court observed that the petition filed under Article 32 was not maintainable, given the complex nature of inter-state water sharing. The court emphasized that such disputes, involving multiple stakeholders like Maharashtra and Karnataka, are better suited for a civil suit under Article 131. Consequently, Telangana’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate Abhishek Singhvi, opted to withdraw the writ petition with the intent to file a comprehensive fresh lawsuit shortly.
The core of the dispute lies in Telangana’s allegation that Andhra Pradesh is diverting Godavari water beyond the limits set by the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal. Telangana officials claim that the proposed expansion to divert 200 TMC of water lacks necessary environmental and inter-state clearances. They argue this move threatens the water security of their state, particularly for several ongoing irrigation barrages that depend on the same river system.
In contrast, the Andhra Pradesh government maintained that the project is being executed within legal frameworks and aims to utilize surplus floodwaters that would otherwise flow into the sea. Their legal representatives argued that the project has prior consent and is vital for providing water to drought-prone regions like Rayalaseema. They also pointed out that preliminary works, such as the Detailed Project Report (DPR), are being conducted following federal guidelines.
While the disposal of the writ petition allows Andhra Pradesh to proceed for now, the legal battle is far from over. The Supreme Court has left the door open for Telangana to return with a more structured legal challenge. As both states gear up for the next phase of litigation, the focus remains on the High-Powered Committee recently formed by the Union Government to mediate these sensitive federal water rights.
