Karnataka to Move SC Against Krishna Tribunal Award
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Feb 25: Notwithstanding the B S Yeddyurappa regime’s initial welcome to the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal’s award, which apportioned a major share of the inter-state river that is regarded as the lifeline of the entire north Karnataka to Andhra Pradesh, the State Government on Friday decided to move the Supreme Court against the Tribunal’s award.
"The decision to move the apex court has been taken to protect the state’s interests over utilisation of Krishna water,” Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa said after an all party meeting convened at Chief Minister’s home office Krishna on Friday.
The leaders of Opposition parties, who participated in the meeting chaired by Yeddyurappa, promised to extend all support to the Government in fighting for the interests of the state.
The all party meeting chaired decided that the State Government should file an appeal in the Apex Court seeking allocation of 50 per cent share in the Krishna waters to the State under the ‘B’ scheme, which was recommended by the Bachhwat Tribunal.
The three-member Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II, headed by Justice Brijesh Kumar, allocated 39 per cent share to the State under the ‘B’ scheme.
The tribunal awarded the highest share of Krishna river waters to Andhra Pradesh and permitted Karnataka to raise the water storage level in the Alamati dam to 524.256 metres from the current 519.6 metres, a measure seen by Andhra Pradesh as one that will deprive its lower Krishna delta region.
In its order, the tribunal allocated a total share of 1,001 tmc to Andhra Pradesh, 911 tmc to Karnataka and 666 tmc to Maharashtra with certain restrictions imposed on each State in keeping with the dependable flows of the rivers under which the allocations have been made.
Yeddyurappa directed the Water Resources and Law Departments to prepare an affidavit after in-depth consultation with legal and irrigation experts.
Karnataka’s Water Resources Minister Basavaraj Bommai told reporters that an affidavit would also be filed before the Tribunal seeking to reconsider its earlier award.
Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah and Janata Dal (S) leader M C Nanaiah, MLC, said they would support to the Government to get maximum share in the Krishna waters.
The Opposition parties would not indulge in “divisive politics” on the issue of water, they said, pointing out that petty politics cannot be allowed to spoil the State’s case and harm the interests of farmers.
Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister S Suresh Kumar, Higher Education Minister V S Acharya and other top officials attended the meeting. Meanwhile, political parties in the Andhra Pradesh have also extended support to the Government to file the appeal before the Supreme Court seeking justice in the allocation of Krishna waters.