The Hindu : Karnataka News : Karnataka moves Krishna tribunal against A.P. on construction of 11 projects

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 20, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka

Karnataka moves Krishna tribunal against A.P. on construction of 11 projects

J. Venkatesan

Tribunal asks Andhra Pradesh to file its response in six weeks

NEW DELHI: The Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal on Thursday asked the Andhra Pradesh Government to file its response in six weeks on an application filed by Karnataka seeking to restrain Andhra Pradesh from constructing or continuing with the construction of 11 large scale irrigation projects by utilising the surplus water of the river Krishna.

The Tribunal comprising its Chairman, Justice Brijesh Kumar and Members S.P. Srivastava and Dilip K. Sethi in its first sitting while asking Andhra Pradesh to file its response in six weeks, granted three weeks time to Karnataka to file its rejoinder.

Appropriating water

In its application, Karnataka said Andhra Pradesh had appropriated the surplus water of the Krishna and was continuing to do so by way of permanent construction of 11 large scale irrigation projects, viz. Telugu Ganga; Srisailam left bank and right bank canal projects; Bhima lift irrigation; Pulichintala project; Veligonda project; Hamdri niva project; Galerunagari project; Kalwakurthy LI scheme; Nettampadu LI scheme and Koilsagar LI scheme.

It said if Andhra Pradesh was allowed to go ahead with these projects, it would be detrimental to the interests of Karnataka .

It said soon after the announcement of the constitution of the Tribunal, Andhra Pradesh had speeded up the construction of these projects to utilise the surplus water of Krishna.

Karnataka wrote to the Andhra Pradesh Government pointing out that the construction of these projects would be illegal. There was no reply.

Further, the Andhra Pradesh Government had publicly announced that Rs. 46,000 crores would be spent for large scale irrigation projects and most of them would be completed in two to five years time. It had invited bids from prospective contractors to construct them .

Contrary to decision

Karnataka contended that the construction of these 11 projects by Andhra Pradesh was contrary to the decision of the earlier award of the Tribunal published in the gazette on May 31, 1976 and also against the Supreme Court judgment of 1997.

Pointing out that the present Tribunal was vested with powers to grant interim relief, it sought a direction to restrain the Andhra Pradesh Government from constructing or continuing with the construction of the projects.

The Tribunal has directed the matter to be listed for further hearing on August 4.

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