Karnataka and Tamil Nadu Clash Over Cauvery Water Release: Top Court Seeks Report
In a recent development, the clash between the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over the release of Cauvery river water has reached the top court. The Supreme Court, acknowledging its lack of expertise on the issue, has decided to seek a report from the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) regarding the quantum of water released by Karnataka.
The contention of Tamil Nadu is that although the authority has issued orders for water release, Karnataka has failed to comply. On the other hand, Karnataka argues that it has discharged the water as allocated by the CWMA, but it takes approximately three days to reach Tamil Nadu.
Recognizing the complexity of the matter, the Supreme Court has deemed it appropriate to rely on the report from the CWMA. The authority is scheduled to hold a meeting on Monday to decide on the discharge of water for the next fortnight.
To ensure a comprehensive understanding of the situation, the court has requested the CWMA to submit a report on whether the directions for water discharge have been followed. The additional solicitor general representing the central government has been directed to communicate this order to the authority, with the report expected to be submitted by next Friday.
In the meantime, Karnataka has filed an application requesting a reduction in the allocated share of water, emphasizing that the current orders by the authority are adverse to its interests. Conversely, Tamil Nadu has sought an increase in its share. The court has decided to let the authorities address these concerns and has listed the case for the next hearing on Friday.
The dispute arose when Tamil Nadu filed a plea in the court, seeking a direction for Karnataka to release 24,000 cusecs (cubic feet per second) of Cauvery water per day from its reservoirs at Billigundulu for the remaining period of the month, starting from August 14. However, Karnataka has cited a distress situation caused by the failure of the southwest monsoon as the reason for opposing the release.
In an attempt to address the issue, Karnataka has requested the CWMA to review its decision made on August 11 and adjust the discharge to 10,000 cusecs per day at the inter-state border Biligundlu, starting from August 12 for the next 15 days.
As the matter unfolds, it is crucial to consider the concerns of both states and arrive at a fair resolution. The Supreme Court will continue to oversee the proceedings, ensuring that the interests of all parties involved are taken into account.
