Telangana, Andhra Pradesh representatives allowed in committee

The Supreme Court on Monday allowed the Centre to have representatives from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in the ‘supervisory committee’ to monitor the release of water from the Babhali barrage by Maharashtra in the Pochampad project.

A three-judge bench of Chief Justice T.S. Thakur and Justices A.M. Kanwilkar and D.Y. Chandrachud allowed the application filed by the Centre for re-constitution of the committee following the division of undivided Andhra Pradesh into the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. It said the chairman of the Central Water Commission would continue to be the Chairman of the reconstituted supervisory committee.

Earlier, senior counsel C.S. Vaidyanathan, appearing for Telangana, strongly opposed the induction of a member from AP, contending that after bifurcation Telangana had the rights to be in the committee.

Senior counsel T.R. Andhyarujina for Maharashtra supported Telangana and said Andhra Pradesh’s representation in the committee was not required. However, senior counsel Ashok Ganguly for AP said being a lower riparian state, it had vital interest in the project and it should continue to have a member in the committee.