Karnataka on Thursday hailed the Krishna Water Dispute Tribunal order on water sharing, describing it as a 'New Year gift' to the people of the state.
The award has fulfilled a major demand of the state to increase the height of the Alamatti Dam built across the river in Bijapur district to 524 metres from 519 metres, Law Minister S Suresh Kumar told reporters.
Reacting to the tribunal order pronounced on Thursday, he said, "Justice Brijesh Kumar has responded to our long held demand."
He said Karnataka has been allocated 177 tmc feet of surplus Krishna water as against 181 tmc feet to Andhra Pradesh, both of which are riparian states along with Maharashtra.
Karnataka will react to the surplus water allocation after studying the report, he said.
Suresh Kumar said the state will have no difficulty in honouring the tribunal order to release 8-10 tmc ft to Andhra Pradesh during June-July every year.
