Ktk to spell out stand on Krishna Tribunal verdict next week

Karnataka Water Resources Minister M B Patil today said the state government will spell out in a week's time its "clear-cut stand" on second Krishna Tribunal's verdict.

Intervening during the debate on motion of thanks to theGovernor for his address in the assembly, the minister said the government has consulted the state's counsel Fali Nariman to seek legal opinion on the verdict of second Krishna Tribunal.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Law Minister T BJayachandra, Water Resources Minister M B Patil, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister H K Patil and IT Minister S R Patil had held discussions with Nariman on January 9 in New Delhi.

During the meeting of Floor Leaders of both Houses of thestate legislature on January 8, the opposition leaders had suggested filing a Special Leave Petition against the tribunal verdict in the Supreme Court.

Siddaramaiah had, however, said the ruling party had an open mind before taking any decision on the issue.

The Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II had on November 29last year 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 more from the Tungabhadra reservoir in Karnataka.

The tribunal has so far allocated 2,578 tmcft of water to riparian Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The three states would get 666, 907 and 1,005 tmcft of Krishna water respectively.