Filing a fresh application, Tamil Nadu submitted that “The Applicant state of Tamil Nadu has filed an application praying inter alia for restraining Karnataka from proceeding with lift irrigation projects and other relief.”

“Any storage, which has the effect of diversion of water for irrigation and not provided for in the final order, cannot be permitted to be undertaken by the State of Karnataka,” said the application filed by Tamil Nadu Advocates K Parasaran and R N Edumaran.

Tamil Nadu said that Karnataka had been constructing several check dams across Hemavathy, Kabini, Suvarnavathy, apart from taking up minor irrigation works in non-scheduled streams in violation of the award passed by the Tribunal in February, 2007.

Mettur’s dependency

It was stated that opening of Mettur Reservoir in Tamil Nadu for irrigation depends not only on the storage at the beginning, but also on the anticipated, sustained inflows during the subsequent months to cater to the crops raised in large extent of fields spread over 12 lakh acres.

Earlier, Karnataka informed the apex court that neither the interim order nor the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal can be enforced against it. The release of water has to be decided only by the Cauvery River Authority headed by the Prime Minister. This stand is contrary to the Centre’s clarification issued to Karnataka in June last year.