State suggests winding up CRA

Karnataka on Monday contended before the Supreme Court that if it wanted to issue any directions to release Cauvery waters to Tamil Nadu, it should first do away with the Cauvery River Authority (CRA) and the Cauvery Monitoring Committee (CMC).

In a submission before a bench of Justices D K Jain and Madan B Lokur, senior advocate Fali S Nariman, appearing for Karnataka, submitted that when a regime “has been put in place to resolve the water-sharing dispute” between two neighbouring states, it must be adhered to.

“We have always complied with the directions of the CMC. The regime is to go to the CRA which is assisted by the CMC. If we are not going to consider them, then it is a different ball game. Nobody calls it (CMC) a biased committee. If you (court) conclude that it (CMC) is wrong, please strike it down,” Nariman said.

He said Karnataka had complied with every direction, except the CMC’s direction to provide 2 tmcft water. Nariman said the state required 86.41 tmcft water for irrigation from October till end of January, while 23 tmcft was required for drinking purpose. The court, referring to previous distress situations, said it was ordered that Karnataka release 10.37 tmcft in 1991 and 11 tmcft in 1995.

Representing Tamil Nadu, senior advocate C S Vaidyanathan contended that the CMC had been unable to define the season, thereby displaying what he called “total abdication of responsibility.”

Karuna tells State, TN to ensure peace

On the backdrop of the Supreme Court adjourning to Tuesday further hearing on Tamil Nadu’s latest petition seeking release of Cauvery water by Karnataka, DMK supremo M Karunanidhi appealed to both the states to ensure peace amid reports of tension in some border villages near Mettur reservoir, reports DHNS from Chennai.