Karnataka's move after studying Mahadayi Tribunal award: CM

Karnataka would study the final award of the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal, which on Tuesday recommended 13.42 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) of the river water to the state before deciding on its next move, said an official statement here.

"We will respond to the final award of the Tribunal after detailed study of its recommendations to the Union government. An appropriate decision will be taken after studying the award in 12 volumes and consulting with the concerned," Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy said in a statement here.

The three-member Tribunal awarded 13.42 TMC of the river water to Karnataka as against its demand for 36.66 TMC, said an earlier statement.

"I have discussed the ruling with the state water resources department and legal experts," added the Chief Minister.

One of the counsels who represented Karnataka before the Tribunal, Mohan Kataraki, said the immediate water needs of the state's drought-prone districts Bagalkote, Belagavi, Dharwad and Gadag, have been addressed by the award.

"While the immediate water requirement has been met by the Tribunal's award, we will take steps for any additional water requirement after going through the verdict," Kataraki told reporters in New Delhi.

Congress state unit President Dinesh Gundu Rao said the party is partially satisfied with the award.

"We are partially satisfied with the Tribunal's verdict as the award for Karnataka is less than the water we had demanded," Rao told reporters here.

While the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president B.S. Yeddyurappa hailed the award as "historic".

"We are happy with what has been awarded to the state and welcome the Tribunal's decision," Yeddyurappa said.

--IANS

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