With the much-anticipated Mahadayi tribunal order, which has brought mixed reactions in Karnataka, the State’s next legal recourse should be to approach the tribunal with a review petition within 90 days, irrigation expert Raja Rao has said.
He pointed out to the recent Supreme Court order on Cauvery water sharing, when the court allocated additional water to Bengaluru considering it an international city and allowed diversion of water from the basin.
“This order was staring at the tribunal, which could have considered diversion of water for drinking purposes. The tribunal could have allowed diversion of more water to Malaprabha, a water deficient basin,” he said.
“So far, we had nothing and through this order we got something. There is enough surplus water in the river,” he said, adding that Karnataka should approach the tribunal with a review petition seeking explanation and clarification under the provisions of Inter-state River Water Disputes Act on issues of why unused water should be wasted, he said.
According to him, the State more importantly should get the current order notified in the gazette by the Union government and file a review petition.
Mr. Rao said: “River water to be used for drinking purposes is a national priority. I cannot understand the rationale behind water being left unused when there is surplus. The tribunal has acknowledged the total yield of the river to be 188 tmcft, but it has allocated only 39 tmcft of water to three States. Where will the remaining water go?”