Govt to explore legal options for more Krishna water

The State government will take necessary steps to utilise the Krishna River water allotted to the State, besides exploring legal options to get additional allocation from the Krishna River Water Disputes Tribunal.

Replying to a debate on the recent clarification order of the Tribunal in the Assembly on Thursday, Water Resources Minister M B Patil said the government would convene a meeting of floor leaders to discuss the future course of action on the issue.

The State had sought clarification on the Tribunal’s 2010 ‘B’ scheme award on 12 key points. “Now, it is not appropriate to comment on the clarificatory order on each of the 12 points in the interest of the State,” he pointed out. The government has already initiated the process to implement the Upper Krishna Project III, which among others, includes increasing the height of Almatti dam to 524.256 metre. Preparations are being made to issue a preliminary notification to acquire 94,600 acre of land in Bagalkot and Bijapur districts, he added.

A committee headed by the chief minister has been set up to oversee implementation of relief and rehabilitation work for land acquisition.The first meeting of the panel is scheduled for December 12, he said. Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister H K Patil defended the decision to seek clarification on 12 points from the Tribunal. There was no clarity when the Tribunal gave its award on the B scheme.

For instance, the entire chunk of excess water was given away to Andhra Pradesh. In the clarificatory order, specific allocation has been made, he said.