Date:03/03/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/03/03/stories/2006030310730500.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

State suffers setback at Krishna Tribunal hearing

Special correspondent

Karnataka and Maharashtra raise objection to six projects

State asked to give undertaking that it will not construct any project outside the purview of tribunal allocation

All projects being executed under Jalayagnam in line with the Bachawat Tribunal

HYDERABAD: The State has suffered a temporary setback at the hearings of the new Krishna Water Tribunal in Delhi.

When counsel for the State Deepankar Gupta continued arguments in support of the 11 projects objected to by Karnataka and Maharashtra during their presentations, the Tribunal headed by Brijesh Kumar sought an undertaking from the State Government that it would not construct any project outside the purview of the allocations made by the Bachawat Tribunal Award and that it would abide by whatever award was given by the present Tribunal covering these projects also.

Speaking to The Hindu from Delhi on Thursday, a senior official attending the hearings said the Tribunal poser would be placed before the Government for a decision. He, however, saw no threat to these projects from the undertaking since all of them were being executed under Jalayagnam in line with the Bachawat Tribunal. The projects were based on the surplus waters of the Krishna, which Andhra Pradesh was "at liberty to use" though without a prescriptive right, he said, quoting the award.

Sources said Karnataka and Maharashtra, after filing affidavits, were not inclined to seriously obstruct five projects, including the Telugu Ganga, which were nearing completion.

But, they had lodged strong objections to the construction of Pulichintala, Veligonda, Galeru-Nagari, Kalwakurthy, Nettempadu and Koilsagar.

YSR's reaction

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy said the Tribunal's remarks were within the comfort levels of Andhra Pradesh. Naidu for all-party meet

Meanwhile, leader of the Opposition N. Chandrababu Naidu charged the State Government with failing to argue the State's case effectively before the Krishna Water Tribunal and demanded that an all-party meeting be convened to evolve a consensus.

Addressing a press conference, Mr. Naidu said that the two advocates fielded by the Government were making a mess of the State's interests by accepting to give in writing that the State had no right over surplus waters. They also argued that Maharashtra and Karnataka were not using 60 tmc and 200 tmc respectively.

Mr. Naidu, who is planning to write a letter to Mr. Reddy on this issue, said before more damage was done to the State's time-tested argument over surplus water, an all-party meeting should be convened to discuss the issue thoroughly.