The Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II on Friday upheld its award of 2010, including raising the height of the Almatti dam to 524.256 metre but allowed Andhra Pradesh to use four tmcft of water more from the Tungabhadra reservoir situated in Karnataka.
The KWDT-II, in its “further report,” has also recognised the right of Karnataka to claim remaining water before the competent authority. The panel, in the 2010 order, had raised the share of all the three riparian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra and allocated 1,001 tmcft (thousand metric cubic feet), 911 tmcft, and 666 tmcft, respectively.
The “further report” is sort of a response to the clarifications sought by the party-states to the 2010 award of KWDT-II. The second Tribunal was set up to resolve some of the issues that the KWDT-I, set up in 1969 and headed by Justice R S Bachawat. This Tribunal had left the issue of surplus water of Krishna river unresolved.
The three-member KWDT-II, headed by Justice Brijesh Kumar and consisting of Justices D K Seth and B P Das, had permitted Karnataka to raise the storage level in the Almatti dam to 524.256 metres from 519.6 metres. The panel also asked the Centre to set up a Krishna Water Decision-Implementation Board with representation from all the three States and the Union government.
Reacting to Friday ruling, Karnataka legal team member Mohan Katarki termed it as “historic achievement for the state” and added that the next course of action would be decided after going through the report in depth. Regarding the Almatti height issue, the “further report” referred to the objections raised by Andhra Pradesh which had stated that the height of the dam was disproportionate to the requirement and in case the height at 524.256m was allowed, it would adversely affect the interest of the people of Andhra Pradesh. It called Almatti an “oversized dam.”
AP objections
Referring to the Andhra Pradesh’s objections, the Friday’s ruling noted: “The case of Andhra Pradesh that after the height of the Almatti dam is raised at 524.256m, the flows into Andhra Pradesh shall be reduced to nil, is totally incorrect. Even after some allowance is given for unutilised part of the share of the upper riparian States, then also it is evident that a lot of water would flow into Andhra Pradesh. All kinds of adjustments as claimed, if accommodated, even then by no stretch of imagination it can be inferred that the flows into Andhra Pradesh would be reduced to nil.”
It further pointed out: “As has been argued before us, the Andhra Pradesh was not able to indicate to indicate about the injury and the extent of injury which may be caused on account of raising of the height of Almatti Dam at 524.256 metres since according to them they are not in possession of the relevant documents and material necessary for the purpose.”
On the issue of release of more water from Tungabhadra dam to Andhra Pradesh, the Tribunal agreed with Andhra Pradesh’s contention that because of siltation in the dam, the water flow to it had been affected.
“Considering all the facts and circumstances, we feel that it would be just and proper to allocate 4 tmcft for Rajolibanda Diversion Right Canal Scheme to cater the need of the Kurnool District..”