TDP asks Prez to scrap Krishna water Tribunal award

Terming the final judgment of the Brajesh Kumar Tribunal on the Krishna Waters dispute as "one-sided", a TDP delegation led by party chief N Chandrababu Naidu today urged President Pranab Mukherjee to direct the Centre to scrap the award and not to publish notify it.
Naidu, who is the Leader of the Opposition in Andhra Pradesh, met the President and presented a memorandum, four days after the final judgment on the Krishna water dispute was delivered.
According to the memorandum, the delegation has sought to nullify the award and final orders of the Tribunal immediately. Besides, the party has demanded constitution of a new Tribunal alleging "fundamental blunders" committed by the Kumar Tribunal.

"He has no authority to increase the height of Almatti (dam) but it has been increased it to 524 (meters). We may not get water for power generation," Naidu told reporters after meeting President at Rashtrapati Bhavan here.
Naidu raised apprehensions that Karnataka may use the total water during rainy season beyond the allocated level.
"They (Karnataka) may release only the surplus water to Andhra Pradesh. The allocated 1001 TMC of water may not come," he added.

The TDP leader alleged the Tribunal award has violated the natural justice and inter-state river principles.
"It is a death blow for Andhra Pradesh," he charged and claimed 14 districts in the state, 35 lakh acres of land for irrigation and drinking water would get affected.

Naidu questioned how water facility could be denied to Andhra Pradesh. "How can you deny the right of Andhra Pradesh and water facility to the state?" he said and added that whenever there was a shortfall or drought, not even one TMC of water will come to Andhra Pradesh.
He stated he is going to meet the Water Resources ministry officials and the Prime Minister pressing for the same demand.