JOIN USSC to TN, K'taka: Sort out issues before CMC
The Supreme Court on Tuesday told Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to thrash out all issues on sharing of Cauvery river waters before the Cauvery Monitoring Committee (CMC) meet on Wednesday.
A bench of Justices D K Jain and J S Khehar deferred hearing the applications filed by Tamil Nadu seeking direction for release of 2 TMC water everyday, as well as contempt action against Karnataka, to November 26.
The bench, however, said that it would be open for the parties to seek clarification from the court in case they were not satisfied with the recommendations of the CMC.
“We direct the CMC to examine all the questions that may be raised before it on behalf of the states in accordance with the law and make recommendation,” the court said.
Senior counsel F S Nariman, appearing for Karnataka, assured the court that the state would comply with the recommendations of the CMC.
Recommendations
The court decided to await the recommendations of the CMC after senior advocate C S Vaidyanathan, representing Tamil Nadu, as well as Nariman noted that the CMC was meeting on October 31.
However, Vaidyanathan placed before the court a copy of a letter written by secretary, Water Resources Ministry to Tamil Nadu chief secretary stating that the issue of shortfall of receipt of water during the south-west monsoon was sub judice.
Nariman submitted that there was enough water for Tamil Nadu’s “samba” crop as Karnataka had released water into the Mettur dam.
At the outset, Vaidyanathan wanted the court to issue direction for implementation of interim award of the tribunal. The court, however, said that at the moment, the matter should be confined to arriving at an interim arrangement.