Farmers move apex court against Krishna tribunal verdict

Eight farmers of Andhra Pradesh moved the Supreme Court seeking an interim stay of the award of the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal II permitting Karnataka to raise the height of the Almatti dam from 519.6 mts to 524.25 mts.

Filed by advocate Guntur Prabhakar, petitioners Devineni Umamaheswara Rao and seven others in their special leave petition against the award said “the KWDT has erred in permitting Karnataka to raise the height of Almatti Dam from 519.6 Mts. to 524.25Mts detrimental to the rights and interests of people of Andhra Pradesh which will adversely affect the timely flow of water to Andhra Pradesh and agriculture operations in the Krishna Basin and entire ayacut of more than 35 lakh.”

As per the final award passed on November 29, Andhra Pradesh is entitled to get 1,005 thousand million cubic feet (tmcft) of water, Karnataka will get 907 tmcft and Maharashtra’s share is 666 tmcft. This award will be binding till 2050. The tribunal has asked the Centre to appoint a Krishna Water Decision Implementation Board, giving representation to Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh as well as the Centre.

The farmers said the Tribunal failed to consider that with respect to the height of Almatti Dam the Union Government has appointed a high power committee comprising the Chief Ministers of West Bengal, Bihar, Tamil Nadu and Assam and the said the committee recommended an height of 519.6 Mts only in order to protect the interest of Lower riparian State and the same was approved by this court in the Suit filed by Andhra Pradesh. While so, allowing Karnataka to raise the height of the dam would be against the interests of the farmers of Andhra Pradesh.

justified in permitting State of Karnataka to raise the height of Almatti Dam detrimental to the rights and interests of farmers and residents of State of Andhra Pradesh?.

They said the determination and allocation of alleged surplus water to an extent of 448 TMC would severely affect more than 35 lakh acres spread over in 14 districts of Andhra Pradesh . Further the determination and allocation of alleged surplus water by KWDT- II will make the projects water scarce . They sought a direction to stay the operation of the final order and to direct Government of India not to publish the final order in the official Gazette under the Inter State River Water Disputes Act.