'Convincing SC crucial'

The fate of the present row over sharing of Cauvery water hinges on how the Karnataka government convinces the Supreme Court on its decision to stop release of water to Tamil Nadu from October 8, and its refusal to accept the decision of the Cauvery Monitoring Committee (CMC), legal experts say

“The decision of the apex court on our review petition coming up for hearing on October 12 is crucial. We should give a valid explanation to convince that we are not wilfully disobeying the court order or the CMC’s decision,” former advocate general Ashok Harnahalli said.

Karnataka, represented by its Chief Secretary S V Ranganath on Thursday, told the CMC headed by Water Resources Secretary D V Singh that the State had no water to release to Tamil Nadu.

“Tamil Nadu will press on its contempt petition and we should place all facts before the court”, Harnahalli said.

The CRA had directed Karnataka on September 19 to release 9,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu till October 15.  

To a query on whether the CMC’s decision was binding on the State, former advocate general B V Acharya said: “It is binding, but it will not attract contempt.” Acharya pointed out that the State government should also look at the positive side of the CMC direction that water need not be released on a day-to-day basis.