AP delegation meets PM on Krishna tribunal award

An all-party delegation from Andhra Pradesh led by Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here on Friday and urged him not to notify the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal II award.

The delegation said if the Centre notifies the award it would deprive Andhra Pradesh of its right to use surplus water.

The state, which challenged the award in the Supreme Court, wanted the Central government to implead in its support as the tribunal’s decision will have an impact all over the country.

Though the prime minister ordered a detailed study of the state’s objections, Union Water Resources Minister Harish Rawat, who was present during the meeting, expressed the government's inability to do anything to reverse the decision taken by the tribunal, sources said.

The delegation alleged that the tribunal tried to distribute even surplus water, altering the parameters that were being adopted for measuring dependability and availability.

The all-party delegation included various representatives from Congress, TDP, YSR Congress Party and two Left parties.