GODAVARI RIVER MANAGEMENT BOARD
1.0 Introduction:
Godavari River Management Board (GRMB) was constituted by the Central Government as an autonomous body under the administrative control of the Central Government In exercise of the powers conferred by Sub-sections (1), (4) and (5) of the Section 85 of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation the Act, 2014, the Central Government constituted Godavari River Management Board Vide Ministry of Water Resources, RD & GR Gazette Notification – S.O. 1403(E), dated the 28th May, 2014 for the administration, regulation, maintenance and operation of such projects, as may be notified by the Central Government from time to time and became effective on 2nd June 2014. The Headquarter of GRMB is located at Hyderabad.
The Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014, Section 87 stipulates that
(1) The Board shall ordinarily exercise jurisdiction on Godavari and Krishna rivers in regard to any of the projects over Headworks (barrages, dams, reservoirs, regulating structures), part of canal network and transmission lines necessary to deliver water or power to the States concerned, as may be notified by the Central Government, having regard to the awards, if any, made by the Tribunals constituted under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956.
(2) If any question arises as to whether the Board has jurisdiction under sub-section (1) over any project referred thereto, the same shall be referred to the Central Government for decision thereon.
Further as per AP Reorganization Act, 2014, Sub Section (8) of Section 85,
The functions of the Board are:
- The regulation of supply of water from the projects to the successor States having regard to –– (i) awards granted by the Tribunals constituted under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956; (ii) any agreement entered into or arrangement made covering the Government of existing State of Andhra Pradesh and any other State or Union territory;
- The regulation of supply of power generated to the authority in-charge of the distribution of power having regard to any agreement entered into or arrangement made covering the Government of the existing State of Andhra Pradesh and any other State or Union territory;
- The construction of such of the remaining on-going or new works connected with the development of the water resources projects relating to the rivers or their tributaries through the successor States as the Central Government may specify by notification in the Official Gazette;
- Making an appraisal of any proposal for construction of new projects on Godavari river and giving technical clearance, after satisfying that such projects do not negatively impact the availability of water as per the awards of the Tribunals constituted under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 for the projects already completed or taken up before the appointed day; and
- Such other functions as the Central Government may entrust to it on the basis of the principles specified in the Eleventh Schedule of the APRA, 2014.
Jurisdiction:
The Central Government Vide notification No S.O.2843(E) dated 15th July 2021 has notified the Jurisdiction of GRMB by listing Projects under Schedule- I, Schedule-II.
The Schedule-I lists Headworks (Barrages, Dams, reservoirs, regulating structures, part of canal Network and Transmission lines of the Projects/Components over which the board will ordinarily have Jurisdiction.
The said notification came into force with effect from 14th October 2021. The said notification also stipulated that the state governments shall get complete the unapproved projects appraised and approved within six months. If approvals are not obtained within the stipulated time of 6 months such completed unapproved projects shall seize to operate. The central government Vide Notification No. S.O.1562(E) dated 1st April 2022 has extended the time period from six months to one year.
2.0 Board:
The Board shall consist of a Chairperson, of the level of an additional Secretary to the Government of India from the Central Water Engineering (Group ‘A’) Service; two Members nominated by each of the successor States of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, of which one shall be the technical member not below the rank of the Chief Engineer and the other administrative member to represent the concerned States; one expert from the Central Power Engineering (Group ‘A’) Service; and Member Secretary not below the rank of Chief Engineer from Central Water Engineering (Group ‘A’) Service. The Central Government shall create such number of posts of the rank of Chief Engineer in the Central Water Engineering (Group ‘A’) service, as it considers necessary. All the posts of GRMB Secretariat are to be filled on deputation basis from Staff/Officers of Central Government/State Government of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
In pursuance of Section 86(2) of the A.P. Reorganisation Act, 2014, GoTS and GoAP shall at all times provide the necessary funds to the Board to meet all expenses required for the discharge of its functions and such amounts shall be apportioned between the States.
3.0 Apex Council
In pursuance of Section 84(1) of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, the Central Government constituted an Apex Council for the supervision of the functioning of GRMB under the Chairmanship of the Hon’ble Minister of Water Resources, Government of India as Chairperson and Hon’ble Chief Minister of Telangana & Hon’ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh as Members.