Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal - Controversies

Controversies

ANDHRA PRADESH

The State had a case for approaching the apex court, at least in respect of the height of the Almatti dam as it was the Supreme Court that fixed the height at 519.6 metres through an order, disposing of a petition filed by Andhra Pradesh more than a decade ago.

A major “mathematical error” identified by the government with the help of legal/technical experts is that it assessed the water availability in the Krishna “oddly” at 65 per cent dependability, that too covering a limited period as in the case of the Narmada. Hitherto, the availability in the Krishna is reckoned at 75 per cent dependability for a longer period (more than a century) in line with the standard formula adopted all over the world.

KARNATAKA

The demand of Karnataka for 278 tmcft of water had been partially met with allotment of only 177 tmcft, the State had staked its claim for a reasonable 278 tmcft of water in ‘B' Scheme as over 43.8 per cent catchment area of the Krishna fell in the State. The Bachawat Commission in its recommendations on water-sharing under ‘A' Scheme in the 1970s said that during further adjudication, the issue of Karnataka getting a share of 50 per cent of the surplus water and Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra sharing the remaining equally should be considered. The tribunal had overlooked it,

Allocation for Karnataka was unacceptable because Andhra Pradesh was already using the unutilised waters released by Karnataka.

MAHARASHTRA

The Tribunal has decided to raise it to 524.25 metres. It is not in favour as it increases the risk of floods in Kolhapur, Satara and Sangli

Maharashtra had demanded that the computation of water availability be based on 50 per cent dependability, but the Tribunal fixed it at 65 per cent.