Sharing waters: On the Tungabhadra model
The Tungabhadra Board serves as a successful institutional model of cooperative federalism, facilitating water sharing and dispute resolution among the riparian states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. Amidst rising inter-state river water disputes across India, analyzing such collaborative frameworks highlights the importance of joint management boards over protracted litigation. This model offers valuable lessons for balancing federal relations, ecological preservation, and equitable resource allocation.
Read source at The Hindu — Editorial →Mains Practice Question
Inter-state river water disputes in India are often characterized by prolonged legal battles and political mobilization rather than consensus-based resolution. In this context, examine how the 'Tungabhadra model' of joint management can serve as a blueprint for resolving inter-state water conflicts and fostering cooperative federalism.
250 words
Practice this in the exam hall →Prelims Practice MCQ
With reference to the Tungabhadra River and its basin management, consider the following statements: 1. The Tungabhadra River is formed by the confluence of the Tunga and Bhadra rivers, both of which originate in the Western Ghats. 2. The Tungabhadra Board is a statutory body established to regulate the water shared primarily among Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.1 only
- B.2 only
- C.Both 1 and 2
- D.Neither 1 nor 2
Statement 1 is correct: The Tunga and Bhadra rivers originate in the Kudremukh region of the Western Ghats in Karnataka and merge at Koodli to form the Tungabhadra River. Statement 2 is correct: The Tungabhadra Board was established by the Government of India in 1953 to manage the reservoir and canal systems for sharing waters among the partner states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana (succeeding the erstwhile Andhra State and Hyderabad State interests).
Practice more MCQs like this →