Review of Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal - A report on Krishna river water allocations

This is a review of KWDT-2 report analysing how it has failed to protect the long term sustainable productivity and ecology of the river basin. It has also failed to understand the water allocations done by previous KWDT-1. KWDT-2 also negated the earlier KWDT-1 allocations at the same time categorically stating that it cannot change water use allocations of previous award.

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Important role of a downstream state in a river basin:

It is presumed many times without much thought that downstream state is demanding unnecessary share of water from the upstream river basin states. But we should understand the contribution of a downstream state in correct perspective.

Before the rain water collects in the river, it picks up many salts in dissolved form from the soil on which it flows or percolates. The nature and quantity of total dissolved salts (TDS) depends on the chemical weathering rate of rocks, industrial activity, mining activity, anthropogenic activity, ground water usage, surface water usage, the extent of acidity in the rain water, etc in a particular area.

Also the rain fall pattern in Krishna river basin is not uniform throughout the year. Most of the rain takes place in four months of south west monsoon period. Most of the flood water is generated due to very high rain fall in Western Ghats which are part of uplands in Krishna river basin. The Western Ghats occupy only 9.5% of basin area but contribute 57% of total inflows to the river. Frequently the monsoon floods take place in the entire stretch of main river course causing huge property loss and human fatalities & sufferings.

Download the below attachment to read the entire report