Making a final decision on dividing the surplus water of River Krishna, the Krishna Water Dispute Tribunal allocated the maximum share of water to Andhra Pradesh while also enhancing the share of Karnataka and Maharashtra.

Now, Andhra Pradesh will get 1,001 TMC, Karnataka 911 TMC and Maharashtra 666 TMC of water from the river.

Earlier allocation was 811 TMC for Andhra Pradesh, 734 TMC for Karnataka and 585 TMC for Maharashtra.

The Tribunal headed by Justice Brijesh Kumar also allowed more water to be stored in the Almati Dam in Karnataka.

With this order, 524 metres of the dam height could be used to store the Krishna water from its earlier 519 metre.

The Centre will set up the Krishna Water Implementation Board after three months for implementation of the award.

“The states who want to file a review or seek explanation on the award can do so within the next three months,” Justice Kumar told.

It is understood that the award will be valid by 31st May, 2050.

Since the Tribunal has the force and decree of the Supreme Court, no appeal against the award can be filed in any other court except the tribunal itself.

Karnataka hails Krishna water dispute tribunal

Karnataka on Thursday hailed the Krishna Water Dispute Tribunal order on water sharing, describing it as a “New Year gift” to the people of the state which has responded to its long felt demand.

The award has fulfilled a major demand of the state to increase the height of the Alamatti Dam built across the river in Bijapur district to 524 metres from 519 metres, Law Minister S Suresh Kumar told reporters in Bangalore on Thursday.

Reacting to the tribunal order pronounced on Thursday, he said “Justice Brijesh Kumar has responded to our long felt demand.”

He said Karnataka has been allocated 177 tmc feet of surplus Krishna water as against 181 tmc feet to Andhra Pradesh, both of which are riparian states along with Maharashtra.

Karnataka will react to the issue on surplus water allocation after studying the report, he said.

Suresh Kumar said the state will have no difficulty in honouring the tribunal order to release 8-10 tmc ft to Andhra Pradesh during June-July every year.