Fire delays final hearing on Krishna water dispute between Telangana and AP

Hyderabad: The final hearing on the Krishna water dispute before the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal has been put off from March 30 and 31 following a fire in the court hall in Delhi.

AP and Telangana were to make their final arguments on these two days. The tribunal functions from a floor in the Ansal Plaza office complex near Bhikaji Cama.

The court hall was badly damaged in a recent fire mishap. Maharashtra and Karnataka have completed their final arguments on the implications of the AP Reorganisation Act extending the term of the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal by two more years.

It also includes the key decision on whether or not the Tribunal final award of 2013 should be reopened in the wake of formation of Telangana state in 2014. In the initial rounds, Telangana sought to reopen the award; the government contends that the award was based on the arguments put forth by officials of undivided AP who were not inclined to get more water for the region.

AP wants the award be reopened so that operationalising the new allotments will be delayed.

Maharastra and Karnataka want only the allotment made to undivided AP to be divided between Telangana and Andra Pradesh.