Andhra given biggest share of Krishna water

Aiming to resolve a four decade long tussle, the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal on Thursday delivered its verdict on sharing of Krishna river water between Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra.

Andhra Pradesh was given the biggest share of 1,001 thousand million cubic feet (TMC feet) of the available water.

Karnataka came second with an allocation of 911 TMC feet and Maharashtra was given 666 TMC feet.

Out of surplus river water, Karnataka will get 177 TMC feet followed by Maharashtra (81 TMC feet) and Andhra Pradesh 190 TMC feet.

The verdict, running into 2000 pages, also directed the three states not to divert water for any other purpose other than the purpose decided by the tribunal.

The Tribunal was constituted on April 2, 2004, to settle the water sharing dispute between the three states that has been dragging on for 43 years now.

The three-member tribunal was headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Brijesh Kumar, while the other members were retired Allahabad High Court judge Justice SP Srivastava and retired Kolkata High Court judge Justice DK Seth.