Brijesh Kumar Tribunal judgment on sharing of Krishna water is a severe setback to Andhra Pradesh, Irrigation experts today opined.
In its final verdict, the Tribunal allotted from 1001 to 1005 tmcft of water to Andhra Pradesh. Brijesh Kumar Tribunal further stated that representations and requests of Andhra Pradesh would be considered by the new authority to be constituted by the Centre as Andhra Pradesh recommended 14 amendments to the judgment delivered by a tribunal in 2010. Brijesh Kumar Tribunal was constituted to look into the complaints on Krishna water dispute between Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
Following the increased height of Alamatti Dam, the water will reach Andhra Pradesh 12 months late, the experts said. Now the Supreme Court can only repeal the Tribunal judgment and do justice to Andhra Pradesh, they felt. The future of irrigation projects, being constructed in the Krishna basin at a cost of Rs 32,000 crore, would become questionable.
The Brijesh Kumar Tribunal judgment would be in force till 2050.
Speaking to the media after the Tribunal judgment, Sudarshan Reddy, lawyer on behalf of Andhra Pradesh, who argued before the tribunal, said with the decision of the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal, Andhra Pradesh has no rights on surplus water.
A Special Leave Petition is pending in the apex court on the State’s demand and after its judgment on the petition gazette of tribunal will be issued. The Tribunal has nothing to do if the State was bifurcated, he added. However, Karnataka State welcomed the verdict and said the people of Karnataka would benefit from this judgment. (NSS)