Farmer bodies, irrespective of political affiliation, staged a protest at the Benz Circle here against the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal award.
The members squatted on the road raising slogans against the verdict and demanded a review on Tuesday.
The leaders said they had chalked out a three-pronged approach — mobilising people against the verdict, mounting pressure on the State and Central governments to scrap the award, and initiate legal action.
The allocations were not beneficial to the State and the tribunal had restricted the liberal use of surplus waters of 300 tmcft, they added.
The tribunal had considered distribution of surplus water, a first of its kind practice that went against the international laws, they pointed out.
Faulting the tribunal for the award based on 65 per cent dependability and 47-year availability for lacking rational basis, they demanded that the tribunal withdraw its approval given to Karnataka to raise the height of Almatti dam.
The State got a raw deal due to weak arguments placed by it before the tribunal, they opined and wanted the government to take opinion of irrigation experts and political parties to see that the verdict was stalled through Special Leave Petition filed in the Supreme Court.
CPI(M) affiliated Rythu Sangham leaders Y. Kesava Rao and Prabhakar, CPI affiliated AIKS leader Nageswara Rao, Telugu Rytu district president Chalasani Anjaneyulu, Mylavaram MLA and TDP district president Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, BJP leader R. Venkateswara Rao, TDP leaders Bonda Umamaheswara Rao, Gadde Rammohan, Tumati Premnath, and K.V.P. Basaveswara Rao, and CPI(M) leader M. Yelamanda Rao were present.
The police picked up the agitating leaders and released them later.
