K'taka may move SC on tribunal allotting 4 tmcft more to AP

 Karnataka is likely to approach the Supreme Court against Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II allowing 4 tmcft of the river waters from the state's share to be utilised by Andhra Pradesh, Water Resources Minister M B Patil said today.

Replying to a special discussion on the issue in the Assembly, Patil said the government would, however, take a decision soon after legal and technical experts submit a detailed report on the tribunal award.

The Tribunal had on November 29, upheld its 2010 award including allowing Karnataka to increase the height of Almatti dam in Bagalkot to 524.256 metres from the existing 519.6 m. It had, however, allowed Andhra Pradesh to use 4 tmcft of water more from the Tungabhadra reservoir located in Karnataka.

Though it leads to submergence of 23 villages and 1.2 lakh acres of land, which include 70,000 acres of fertile land, the tribunal agreeing for the original height would allow the state to store huge quantum of water and utilize the surplus waters to a better extent.

The tribunal had so far allocated 2578 tmc ft of water to riparian Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The three states would get 666, 907 and 1005 tmc ft of Krishna water respectively.

Patil said Karnataka earlier had no right on 2,578 tmc ft of un-allocated water and the recent verdict had allowed the state to submit its demand before the competent authority.

Opposition JDS leader H D Kumaraswamy said Karnataka had received setback in sharing of water in both Cauvery and Krishna Rivers but everything is not lost yet in case of Krishna.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the government was keen on convening floor leaders' meeting in the presence of legal experts to safeguard the state's interest of getting maximum share from Krishna river.

KJP President B S Yeddyurappa said government should immediately appeal against the recent order of reducing 4 tmcft of water earlier allocated to Karnataka.

In its final award, the tribunal sought to maintain a balancing act by giving four TMC of Karnataka water to Andhra Pradesh and at the same time recognised Karnataka's right to claim the remaining water before competing authority.