ISAS Insights

The water-sharing disputes between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are the latest in a list of on-going inter-state riparian issues in India. While these disputes are generally in the nature of inter-State disagreements, most of them also impinge on the distribution of constitutional powers between the Union and the States. This paper examines the constitutional mechanisms to deal with water disputes, and the nature of the disputes over River Krishna. It argues that it is difficult for the Indian States to resolve all such disputes. Hence, they should focus on watersharing management through the efficient and effective use of the available water.