Cauvery Water Row: Supreme Court To Hear Tamil Nadu’s Plea Against Karnataka

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Monday, August 17, Tamil Nadu’s plea seeking directions to Karnataka to release 26.954 tmcft of Cauvery water.

A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta will take up the matter, according to the apex court’s causelist.

Tamil Nadu approached the court alleging that Karnataka had failed to comply with directions issued by the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) and the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA).

At its July 28 meeting, the CWRC reviewed conditions in the Cauvery basin and directed Karnataka to ensure a flow of 3,500 cusecs at Biligundlu for 15 days from July 29 to August 12. It directed regulation of releases from the Krishnaraja Sagar and Kabini reservoirs.

The CWMA endorsed the recommendation during its emergency meeting on July 30.

Tamil Nadu, however, alleged that the water received at Biligundlu was significantly below its rightful share.

As of August 3, Karnataka’s four major Cauvery basin reservoirs collectively held 77.537 tmcft, including 23.078 tmcft at KRS, 18.610 tmcft at Kabini, 7.827 tmcft at Harangi and 28.022 tmcft at Hemavathi.

The utilisable storage stated to be 67.517 tmcft.

Tamil Nadu maintained that Karnataka could release its proportionate share given the storage and improved inflows following heavy rainfall. It calculated its required share at 26.954 tmcft, compared with around 4.536 tmcft from the CWMA’s 3,500-cusecs direction.

The court earlier deferred the matter after CJI Surya Kant said Justice Vikram Nath was unwell.

The court agreed to tag the farmers’ application mentioned by senior advocate P Wilson with the state’s petition.

Karnataka BJP leader R Ashoka accused the state government of secretly releasing Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. He warned of intensified protests if the release continued.

Also Read: ‘Even If Opinion Is Wrong, Right To Protest Remains’: CJI Surya Kant On NALSAR Students