Polavaram Dam-Godavari River Dispute : Supreme Court Asks Union To Call For Meetings Between AP, Odisha & Chhattisgarh

The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Union Government to hold talks between the States of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh for the resolution of Polavaram dam and Godavari river water dispute.

It was submitted by Senior Advocate Gopal Subramaniam that the project being undertaken by the Andhra Pradesh is in violation of the recommendations of the Justice Bachawat Panel recommendations. The project puts the citizen residing in state of Odisha under risk of being submerged. The Counsel for Andhra Pradesh submitted that there has not been a consensus between the states. Rs 30,000 crores has been spent so far.

A bench comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Abhay S Oka and Vikram Nath observed that, "it is a never-ending exercise. If the project has to be made or not made. Costs keep going up. Mr. CS Vaidyanathan has said the project has gone beyond what was envisaged" The Court suggested that, "You can begin by having a meeting of the Chief Secretaries of the states. Maybe at a political level the Chief Ministers may have to meet".

The Court ordered in the matter that, "We put it to the learned counsels that it would be in the fitness of things if Centre takes initiative in calling a meeting of all stakeholders so the projects can be considered….Pioneering role needs to be played by Jal Shakti Ministry and the Ministry of Environment….Meeting must be held at appropriate high level. Chief Ministers can meet to iron out the issues. Meetings must be held in one month and reports to be filed before the Supreme Court." The matter now to be taken up for hearing on 7th December 2022.

State of Orissa versus State of Andhra Pradesh Original Suit No.4/2007, State of Chattisgarh versus State of Andhra Pradesh Original Suit No.3/2011