Centre grants one-year extension to Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal

New Delhi: The Centre has granted yet another extension to the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal, allowing it time until July 31, 2026, to submit its final report and decision regarding the long-standing inter-state water-sharing dispute involving the Krishna river.

The notification issued by the Ministry of Jal Shakti states that the extension was made under the powers conferred by the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956.

This comes in response to a formal request made by the Tribunal, which sought more time to complete its work.


The Tribunal's tenure had previously been extended till July 31, 2025, via a March 2024 notification.

Originally constituted in April 2004, the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal was set up to adjudicate disputes between Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra over the sharing of Krishna River waters.

The Tribunal had submitted its initial report in December 2010, but references and objections raised by the states necessitated further hearings and decisions.

Further complicating the issue was the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in 2014, after which the newly formed Telangana also became a stakeholder in the Krishna water dispute.

Since then, its deadline has been extended multiple times through successive notifications.

The latest extension continues the pattern, with the government citing section 5(3) of the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, allowing for more time "in public interest and to address the concerns of the party states".