Karnataka has won the latest round of the legal battle over the construction of Almatti dam across the river Krishna. The Supreme Court recently rejected a petition seeking a stay on the construction of the dam. The court was ruling on a special leave petition by the Karnataka government and another by a person challenging the Andhra Pradesh High Court's (HC) order declining to intervene in the controversy. The HC, in its September 11, 1996 order, had observed that it had no reason to interfere in the matter as it was the responsibility of the Union government to protect the riparian states by implementing the Krishna water tribunal award.