Taking exception to the opposition to the final award of the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal, headed by the former Supreme Court judge Brijesh Kumar, historian and irrigation activist Krishna Kolhar Kulkarni has said such opposition is unwarranted as it is against the interests of the State.
He told presspersons here on Sunday that the tribunal had upheld the longstanding demand of the State for increasing the height of the Alamatti dam to 524 metres, thereby allowing the State to utilise 130 tmcft of additional water. Opposing the final award would delay the work on increasing the height of the dam, he said.
“After years of struggle and with great difficulty, the State got the approval to increase the height of the dam. As 80 tmcft of water, of the additional 130 tmcft awarded to the State, will be utilised for irrigation project in Bijapur and Bagalkot districts, no one should oppose the award at this critical stage,” Mr. Kulkarni said.
He said objections against the award could be put before the Supreme Court.
To approach apex courtHe said the State government had made it clear that it was ready to knock at the door of the apex court with regard to some of aspects of the award which were not in the interests of the State.
Bijapur district had only 15 per cent irrigated area, Mr. Kulkarni said, and claimed that if the 80 tmcft of water was utilised effectively, the district would have 80 per cent irrigated area.
He urged the State government to ensure that the Union government notifies the tribunal award.
Guru Sanganabasawaswamy of Yeranal math, who is spearheading the agitation for increasing the height of the dam, urged the government to convene a meeting of irrigation experts, activists and other stakeholders to sort out the differences.
