For the first time after it delivered the award on February 5, the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal will hold a sitting with basin states on July 10.
“Take notice that the sitting of the Tribunal will be held on July 10 to consider the orders to be passed on the reference petitions filed on behalf of the party states and the Union Territory of Pondicherry (Puducherry)”, the Tribunal said in a letter to the four states which are party to the century-old dispute.
In its controversial February order, the Tribunal had directed Karnataka to release 192 tmc ft of water annually to Tamil Nadu but allowed the former to increase its irrigated area in the basin up to 18.5 lakh acre from 11.2 LA.
Distress year
The panel allocated a total of 270 tmc to Karnataka, 419 to TN, 30 to Kerala and seven to Puducherry, putting the total yield available in the river at 740 tmc at 50 per cent dependability. It said in a distress year, the allocated shares would be proportionately reduced among the four states. Following the award, all the party states submitted their review petitions with all states other than Karnataka seeking opening of the entire issue.  Karnataka told the Tribunal that construction of a reservoir on the inter-state border was a must if it has to release 192 tmc ft of water annually to TN.
In its petition before the Tribunal seeking “explanation/guidance” for award, Karnataka  implied that the proposed Mekedatu power project should be constructed by it and not by the National Hydro-electric Power Corporation (NHPC).
Noting that the monthly releases amounting to 192 tmc was impossible to adhere, Karnataka said the panel was not capable of implementation in the absence of regulatory measures by means of hydro-power storage at border point of Mekedatu. 
The state, which has already filed a petition before the SC challenging the award of the Tribunal, said it was impossible to ensure delivery without the reservoir at or above the inter-State border at Mekedatu.