AP to move Supreme Court against Krishna Water Tribunal award

Vijayawada, Nov 30:

would approach the Supreme Court against a tribunal's final award on sharing of river

waters and seek "justice" for the State, a Minister said today.

Talking to media persons here, Minister for Secondary Education K Parthasarathi said the Government of Andhra Pradesh would definitely approach the Supreme Court to seek "justice" for the State on Krishna Water Tribunal award, which has evoked sharp criticism from Opposition parties here.

He, however, did not say when the State will approach the apex court. The tribunal, headed by Justice Brijesh Kumar, came out with its final award yesterday. It allotted four thousand million cubic (TMC) of water from Karnataka's share to Andhra Pradesh and at the same time allowed the former to increase the storage in Almatti dam to 524.256 meters.

Opposition parties in Andhra Pradesh have called the award a "death blow" to the State, particularly to the Krishna Delta region. They have maintained that the increase in water share to Andhra Pradesh was "negligible". In the interim award given on December 30, 2010 AP had got 1,001 TMC of water, Karnataka 911 TMC and Maharashtra 666 TMC from the river.

Prior to that allocation was 811 TMC for Andhra, 734 TMC for Karnataka and 585 TMC for Maharashtra. The parties are strongly opposed to permission given to Karnataka for raising the height of Almatti dam to 524.5m, a move they said will have adverse impact on kharif cropping in at least half a dozen districts.

Parthasarathi said Pulichintal multipurpose irrigation project, which will be dedicated to people by Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on December 8, will benefit Krishna delta.

Meanwhile, TDP and YSR Congress Party today staged separate protests here in Krishna district against the award. TDP activists, under the leadership of legislator D Umamaheswara Rao, staged a sit-in at Gollapudi village on the outskirts of the city, blocking traffic on Vijaywada-Hyderabad National Highway.

Rao said if the award is implemented, the Krishna delta would become a "desert" in future. YSR Congress workers and leaders staged a protest in another part of the city.

PTI