More PILs against Tribunal award likely in apex court

Hyderabad: Leaders of various political parties demanded that the government fight against the verdict of Brijesh Kumar Tribunal award on sharing of Krishna Waters and see that the award was not implemented. They recommended measures like filing of PIL by farmers and appoint highly efficient advocates to argue such cases and take an all-party delegation to meet the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Briefing media after the four-hour-long meeting, Minister for Major Irrigation P Sudarshan Reddy said that the government was considering extending legal help to the farmers if they file a PIL in Supreme Court.

He said that the Tribunal took 65 per cent water availability as parameter against 75 per cent. He informed that the government was also mulling whether it should file a fresh special leave petition (SLP) in the Apex court. He said the government had sought legal opinion over the matter.

Telugu Desam leader Kodela Sivaprasad Rao said that taking 65 per cent water dependability for irrigation by KWDT-2 was against the all international norms. The verdict would affect the production of 2,500 MW power and the ongoing irrigation projects in the State. The government should fight in court by appointing efficient lawyers, he said.

CPI state secretary K Narayana said that they asked the government to fight the issue politically as well. “Chief Minister should lead all-party delegation to Delhi to apprise the Prime Minister of the damage caused to the State by the Tribunal’s award.

However, the TRS said that it will not join the all-party delegation to Delhi because the process of bifurcation of the State was on. The party would ask the government to fight for the allocation of waters to Nettempadu, SLBC and Kalwakurty projects, where works were in progress.

Irrigation expert Vidyasagara Rao said that the government should appoint efficient lawyers to fight the case in Supreme Court to protect the interests of Telangana region. He said that they explained the government about technical lapses in the Tribunal. He said that the government should argue to get back the 150 tmc ft water, which was shown by Brijesh Kumar Tribunal as carry over water. The Bachawat award had shown that as assured water, he said.

CPM state secretary B V Raghavulu said that the government should fight to get water to all seven ongoing irrigation projects in the State.

M Kodanda Reddy, Congress said the board appointed by Government of India to look after the Krishna river water should be constituted in a perfect manner and the board should be given all powers to stall illegal use of water by upper riparian States and it should also fight against the increase of height of Almatti project.

BJP leader Nagam Janardhan Reddy felt that all the three irrigation projects in Mahabubnagar district, including Nettempadu, SLBC and Kalwakurty would be hit by the verdict of the

Tribunal.