Karnataka to challenge Krishna tribunal order in Supreme Court

(From left) Basavaraj Bommai, Minister for Irrigation; Chief Minister B.S.Yeddyurappa; Opposition leader in Assembly Siddaramaiah; Higher Education Minister V.S. Acharya and leader of opposition in the council M.C. Nanaiah at the floor leaders meeting before Assembly session on Friday. Photo: K. Gopinathan

Karnataka Government on Friday decided to approach the Supreme Court challenging the award given by the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal adjudicating the sharing of surplus water under “B” scheme among riparian States.

The Tribunal in its final award has not done justice to Karnataka which had demanded a share of 278 tmcft and was allocated only 178 tmcft, a meeting chaired by Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and attended by State’s Water Resources Minister Basavaraj Bommai and floor leaders of opposition parties felt.

The meeting was convened to discuss and finalise the State’s future course of action on the Tribunal order.

Mr. Bommai said besides contesting the allocation of water before Supreme Court, the State would also file an application seeking clarifications from the Tribunal on why the State’s plea for allocating 50 per cent of the 448 tmcft available for sharing was not considered.

The State would every effort to secure its legal share of water, Mr. Bommai said.

Congress leader in the State assembly Mr. Siddaramaiah said the opposition parties would support the government in getting justice to Karnataka on the issue of Krishna River water sharing.

The meeting was also attended by Industries Minister, Murgesh Nirani, Minor Irrigation Minister, Govind Karjol and JDS leader M.C. Nanaiah.

The Second Tribunal appointed to adjudicate sharing of surplus water among Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra had pronounced its verdict on December 31.

While Karnataka was given 911 tmcft, Andhra got 1001 tmcft and Maharashtra 666 tmcft, which included the share of water allocated to these States by the first tribunal.