Cauvery dispute: Karnataka asked to release a third of the water in its reservoirs

Telengana's water grouse

For the past four decades Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh have been jostling for a share of the Krishna river waters. A tribunal formed to set  the legal limit on how much water each state can use, submitted its provisional award in December 2010, which is presently being contested by all three states. Each is seeking to enhance its allocated share. But the dispute is not just between these states. The fight for a share of the Krishna waters can be witnessed within Andhra Pradesh, too.

Can the National Water Policy do away with priorities?

M Dinesh Kumar executive director Institute for Resource Analysis and Policy (IRAP)

National Water Policy, 2012 silent on priorities

The Union Ministry of Water Resources recently uploaded the draft of the new national water policy on its website, inviting comments and objections from the public. Water resources minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said the policy, under preparation since 2010, is being framed with a “participatory approach”.