JOIN USOften at the receiving end of inter-state water dispute adjudications, Karnataka has something to cheer finally after the second Krishna Tribunal made known its award on Thursday. While allocating the state 911 thousand million cubic feet (tmcft) of water from the southern peninsula’s one of the longest rivers (Andhra Pradesh got 1001 tmcft and Maharashtra 666 tmcft), the Tribunal has allowed Karnataka to raise the Almatti reservoir dam height from the present 519 metres to 524.256 metres. It should be considered the single biggest positive from the verdict as it allows Karnataka to utilise water to the extent of 303 tmcft as against 173 tmcft now. This decision will go a long way in increasing its irrigated area in the parched and backward parts of northern Karnataka, provided the government allocates necessary funds to the projects for their speedy completion. The neighbouring Andhra Pradesh had been relentless in its opposition to the increase in height of the dam but the Tribunal in its wisdom has refused to consider the Andhra plea. In addition to this, the Tribunal has increased the allocation to the Tunga Bhadra projects from the existing 310 tmcft to 360 tmcft.
The Tribunal has not reviewed the award of Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-I which was a demand of Andhra Pradesh. Had this been done, Karnataka would have found itself at a disadvantage as it has failed to utilise fully its share of water. KWDT-I had allotted 734 tmcft to Karnataka but the state has so far utilised not more than 600 tmcft. While this itself is a lesson for Karnataka, the government should now make efforts to not only complete the existing project but also show eagerness to take up the proposed ones.
Having said that, the government may be have to rework its allocations and proposed projects as it will fall short of its allocation by 101 tmcft — the Tribunal has allocated Karnataka 177 tmcft from the surplus waters compared to the 278 tmcft that the state had sought as its Master Plan 2002 had proposed to utilise 278 tmcft of water from the Scheme B for about 20 of its projects. This means that while all its Scheme A projects would be through, the projects which are to utilise Scheme B allocation, like the Varada, Upper Bhadra, etc will have to be fine-tuned according to the available supply. The Yeddyurappa government should not lose any time in mobilising the funds required as the Krishna projects have the potential to metamorphose the most backward region of the state.