The Opposition JD (S) and the BJP are likely to raise the issue of the clarification made by the Krishna Water Dispute Tribunal’s (KWDT) on the State’s petition on its 2010 final verdict on the Krishna river water dispute, in the both Houses of the Legislature on Monday.
The State government received a setback after losing four tmcft of water mentioned in the final verdict delivered by the Justice Brijesh Kumar led Krishna Water Dispute Tribunal-II in December 2010.
The tribunal had allocated a total quantum of 911 tmcft of water to the State.
The tribunal, while disposing of the clarification petition filed by all three riparian States --- Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh --- on Friday allocated additional four tmcft of water from the share of Karnataka from Tungabhadra river to Rajolibanda canal in Andhra Pradesh.
The tribunal, while upholding the claim of Karnataka to raise the height of the Almatti reservoir from the present 519 metres to 524 metres, has also entertained the State’s request to get its share in the unallocated portion of 513 tmcft of water.
Speaking to Express, Opposition BJP Leader in Legislative Assembly Jagadish Shettar said that his party plans to urge the government to make a statement on the issue.
He maintained that the tribunal, while disposing of the clarification petition, has left many issues uncleared.
Shettar said the tribunal’s decision to allocate four tmcft of water from the total quantum affect the interests of the farmers in the Tungabhadra basin.
The State government should explore all possibilities to retain its share of water, he observed.
Meanwhile, Water Resources Minister M B Patil told Express that the State government is examining the full text of the tribunal’s order and would make a statement in both Houses of the Legislature.