New Delhi, December 30: The Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal gave its verdict on sharing of the river water with Andhra Pradesh getting the biggest share, followed by Karnataka and Maharashtra. The verdict running into 2000 pages was given on Thursday on the water sharing dispute.
Out of total water available Andhra Pradesh will get 1,001 thousand million cubic feet (TMC feet), Karnataka’s share will be 911 TMC feet and Maharashtra will have to do with 666 TMC feet.
Out of surplus river water, Karnataka gets 177 TMC feet followed by Maharashtra (81 TMC feet) and Andhra Pradesh 190 TMC feet. Karnataka has also been allowed to raise the height of Almatti Dam.
Andhra Pradesh had been objecting to Karnataka’s efforts to increase the height of the dam before the tribunal.
The tribunal also asked all the three states not to divert water for any other purpose other than the purpose decided by the tribunal.
Karnataka Law and Urban Development Minister S Suresh Kumar welcomed the tribunal’s decision.
“The tribunal has allowed us to increase the height of the Almatti Dam. We are happy and it is a good gift for us for a happy New Year,” said Suresh Kumar.
“Karnataka is happy as the tribunal has taken into account allocation of surplus water. This will help us store more water,” said Karnataka Water Resources Minister Basavaraj Bommai.
The Government of India will constitute Krishna Water Implementation Board after three months. The tribunal verdict can be reviewed only after May 2050.
Krishna river passes through Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra and the three states had been fighting over sharing of the water for 43 years.
The verdict will affect the fate of major irrigation projects in Andhra Pradesh that were taken up at a cost of more than Rs 50, 000 crore.
The Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal was constituted on April 2, 2004 for adjudication of the dispute relating to sharing of waters of Krishna river and river valleys thereof. The three-member tribunal was headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Brijesh Kumar. The other members of the tribunal were retired Allahabad High Court judge Justice and SP Srivastava and retired Kolkata High Court judge Justice DK Seth.
——–Agencies