Krishna Water Tribunal allots additional 4000 TMC of water from Karnataka to Andhra Pradesh

The Krishna Water Tribunal has allotted four thousand million cubic (TMCM) of water from Karnataka's share to Andhra Pradesh and allowed Karnataka to increase water storage in the Almatti dam to 524.256 meters.

The final award on Friday, came almost three years after the interim award was announced. The tribunal has sought to maintain a balance by giving four TMC water to Andhra Pradesh and at the same time recognising Karnataka's right to claim the remaining water.

The tribunal, headed by Justice Brijesh Kumar, was appointed by the government to resolve disputes over water sharing between Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh through which the river flows.

As per Friday's verdict, a disappointed Andhra Pradesh would get 1005 TMC of Krishna water as its share - a four TMC raise from its interim award in December 2010. The state government is reported to be mulling over legal options, including submitting a Special Leave Petition (SLP) pending before the court over the award.

Opposition parties in Andhra Pradesh have slammed the government for not presenting its arguments effectively before the tribunal.

According to Sudershan Reddy, AP's lawyer before the tribunal, the state now has no rights over the surplus waters. The tribunal's award would be in effect till 2050 and experts have expressed concern over availability of water to Andhra farmers especially with projects like Almatti in the upper riparian state of Karnataka.