Agricultural economist K Palanisami, been hired by Telangana to study water requirements, was unable to give the answer sought by senior counsel of Andhra Pradesh A K Ganguli in a cross-examination in front of the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal (Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II) on the second day in New Delhi on Thursday.
Mr. Palanisami said he could not recall on seven occasions and that he would have to get back to the counsel later.
Answering question number 50 on data to calculate evapotranspiration taken from the Gannavaram and the Machilipatnam meteorological stations of the Krishna Basin, the Telangana witness said “since the work was done one year back, I will check the worksheet and get back.”
Evapotranspiration is the process by which water is transferred from the land to the atmosphere by evaporation from the soil and other surfaces and by transpiration from plants.
‘Will check and get back’
Answering question 65 about the “time period” used in the CLIMWAT software, he said, “I don’t exactly remember, but I will check.” When the AP counsel tried to get a clarification about CLIMWAT software in the very next question, Mr. Palanisami said, “Since this was done a year ago, I don’t exactly remember the notes given at that time.”
Similarly he could not give answers to questions 83, 90, 95 and 96 related to evapotranspiration values taken from the Gannavaram and the Machilipatnam meteorological stations.
The cross examination of Mr. Palanisami will continue on Friday.