The Hindu : Second tribunal on Krishna water sharing to be set up

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, May 17, 2003

National

National

Second tribunal on Krishna water sharing to be set up

By Gargi Parsai

New Delhi May 16 . The Government has decided to set up a second tribunal for adjudication of the dispute between Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra on sharing of Krishna river water.

The Water Resources Ministry is bringing a proposal to the Union Cabinet for approval. It has sought the comments of the Ministries concerned on setting up the tribunal, comprising the Chairman and two members, who would be sitting judges of the Supreme Court or High Court.

The necessity for a second award has arisen following Karnataka's objection to Andhra Pradesh implementing the Telugu Ganga and the Srisailam Left Bank Canal projects utilising the surplus Krishna water.

As per the award of the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal, declared in 1976, its order could be reviewed on any date after May 31, 2000, without disturbing the utilisation undertaken by States within the limits of their allocated shares.

The Karnataka Government filed an application in the Supreme Court against the projects, but last September it withdrew the plea after the Centre gave an assurance that it would constitute another tribunal. In fact, after the award was given, both, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh filed suits in the Supreme Court.

The Court, in April 2000, observed that in case any of the riparian States approached the Centre, the Government would constitute another tribunal, which, it said, ``was the only solution at this juncture''.

The Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal, headed by Justice Bachawat in 1976, had assessed at 75 per cent dependable flow, Krishna water up to Vijaywada as 2060 tmcft. Of this, Maharashtra was allocated 560 tmcft, Karnataka was given 700 tmcft and Andhra Pradesh was allocated 800 tmcft.

Further it gave liberty to Andhra Pradesh to use in any water year, any excess flows that may be available without conferring any right whatsoever. As per the agreement of April 1976, each State has to spare out of its share 5 tmcft for Madras water supply.

The catchment area of Krishna is about 2,58,448 sq km, of which 26.8 per cent lies in Maharashtra, 43.8 per cent in Karnataka and 29.4 per cent in Andhra Pradesh.

The Tribunal, in its report, has discussed about two schemes i.e. Scheme `A' and Scheme `B'. However, in its final award, it has mentioned only Scheme `A' and said Scheme `B' can be implemented if all the three States agreed. There is a provision for formation of a Krishna Valley Authority under Scheme `B'.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National