Karnataka welcomes Krishna tribunal's decision

Karnataka government today welcomed the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal (KWDT)'s refusal to look into allocation of the river water to four basin states afresh, saying it had vindicated the state's stand on the issue.
With the Tribunal's decision, "We would urge the Union government to issue notification of the final award of the KWDT-II," Karnataka Water Resources Minister M B Patil told reporters here.
While refusing to look into allocation afresh, KWDT headed by Justice Brijesh Kumar however said it will take up the issue of distribution of water allocated to erstwhile undivided Andhra Pradesh between the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have termed the decision as "disappointing".
"It has vindicated our stand on the issue," Patil said, adding, Karnataka had made a strong plea against any steps to reallocate the Krishna water afresh.
He said today's decision would help Karnataka go ahead with its plans to utilise the state's share of Krishna water as allocated by the tribunal earlier.
Patil said the state counsels had argued before the tribunal that reallocation of water should be confined to sharing of water between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana from the share allocated to the erstwile united Andhra Pradesh.