Vijayawada: The Supreme Court on Monday declined to issue notices to Andhra Pradesh in the petition filed by Telangana, opposing the proposed shifting of Godavari water through Banakacherla project. The vacation bench of the apex court identified defects in the petition and said it will be listed as per rules.Arguing on behalf of Telangana govt, senior counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi said there are 15 respondents in the petition and notices may be issued to them in the meanwhile, besides an injunction order to the Andhra Pradesh govt.However, the Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta declined to grant any order. The bench directed that the matter be listed as per rules after fulfilment of the required conditions. The Supreme Court earlier declined to entertain a Special Leave Petition filed by Telangana over the same issue and granted liberty to file a civil suit.The bench noted after perusing the office report that the original suit filed by the Telangana govt was listed for hearing, contrary to the rules. The bench also found defects to be cured in the petition and directed the registry to list the matter as per rules, subject to curing of defects.Banakacherla project has become a major point of contention between the two Telugu states due to disagreements over Godavari river water diversion. Andhra Pradesh wants to divert about 200 TMC of surplus Godavari floodwaters to the drought-prone Rayalaseema region through the Polavaram-Banakacherla link project.The state argues that the project will improve irrigation, drinking water supply, and industrial development in the drought-prone region without affecting Telangana’s allocated share as it proposes to use only ‘surplus floodwaters’ that otherwise flow into the sea.Telangana, on the other hand, says the diversion could reduce water availability for its existing and planned irrigation and drinking water schemes which are dependent on Godavari.
