New Delhi: The Supreme Court has declined to take up Telangana government's plea related to the Polavaram Project for immediate hearing, stating that the petition contains procedural defects that must be corrected before the court can examine the matter.
The case was listed before a bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath, which observed that the petition was not in a condition to be heard. The bench did not issue any notice to the Andhra Pradesh government or grant interim relief, directing Telangana to rectify the defects and refile the petition in accordance with court procedures.
The Telangana government has approached the apex court raising concerns over the execution and expansion of the Polavaram Irrigation Project and related canal works. According to the state, certain activities linked to the project require statutory approvals and should comply with the provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, as well as the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal Award.
In its petition, Telangana argued that the ongoing works could have implications for water resources, environmental clearances, and the interests of people living in affected regions. The state sought the intervention of the Supreme Court to examine these issues and provide appropriate directions.
However, the court made it clear that the matter cannot proceed until the procedural shortcomings in the petition are addressed. The bench advised Telangana to cure the defects before seeking a fresh listing of the case.
The Polavaram Project, located on the Godavari River in Andhra Pradesh, is one of India's major multi-purpose irrigation projects. It is intended to provide irrigation facilities, drinking water, hydroelectric power generation, and flood management benefits to several regions of the state.
Over the years, the project has been at the centre of legal and administrative disputes involving neighbouring states, particularly Telangana, over issues related to water sharing, environmental impact, rehabilitation of displaced families, and statutory approvals.
The Andhra Pradesh government has consistently maintained that the project is essential for meeting irrigation and drinking water requirements in drought-prone regions and is being executed in accordance with applicable laws and approvals.
Legal experts believe the Supreme Court's latest order is procedural in nature and does not amount to a decision on the merits of Telangana's claims. The dispute is expected to return before the court once the petition is corrected and refiled.
The outcome of the case is likely to be closely watched by both states, as it concerns one of the country's largest river-linking and irrigation infrastructure projects.
