Southern States - Karnataka

Tribunal to help defuse tension between States

Our Special Correspondent

HUBLI AUG. 23. The decision of the Union Government to set up a Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal marks another positive step in its efforts to find a solution to an issue which is a bone of contention especially between Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

The Centre has taken action to constitute the tribunal within one year after a request was made, as stipulated by the amended provisions of the Inter-State Water Disputes Act.

According to official sources in the State, it is now a matter of days before the Centre finalises the three-member team. The new tribunal has to give its report within three years, according to the amended provisions of the Act, unlike the situation when the first tribunal was constituted under the chairmanship of R.N. Bachawat, which had no time limit and took nearly six years to submit its report.

The action should help defuse the tension developing between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh following the latter taking objection to the Upper Tunga Project, and Karnataka protesting against the execution of six projects in the Krishna Basin which have not been cleared.

The point of interest now is not the selection of members of the tribunal but the terms of reference which are to be finalised.

While Karnataka has taken the stand that the allocation made under Scheme `A' of the first Krishna Waters Disputes Tribunal are protected and beyond any review by any tribunal, Andhra Pradesh is keen on appropriating the waters allocated under the scheme which have remained unutilised by Karnataka and Maharashtra.

Perhaps, the two States will prepare for a protracted battle ahead before the tribunal. It remains to be seen whether the Centre will finalise separate terms of reference or these will be based on the complaints filed by the three riparian States.

Karnataka was the first to approach the Centre for the appointment of the tribunal.

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