SC to hear TN's plea for release of Cauvery water from State

The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to consider Tamil Nadu’s petition to direct Karnataka to release 45.327 tmcft of Cauvery water from its reservoirs to save 15 lakh acres of cultivated fields and four million people dependent on it in that state.

A bench of Chief Justice H L Dattu and Justice Amitava Roy allowed a request by the Tamil Nadu counsel for urgent listing and put the matter for consideration after Deepavali vacation.

In its application, Tamil Nadu contended there was cumulative shortfall of 45 tmcft of Cauvery water to be supplied from Mettur reservoir in Tamil Nadu. The Mettur reservoir was opened for irrigation on August 9. The ayucut area to be irrigated under the systems depending on the Mettur reservoir is about 15 lakh acres. Cultivation in the Cauvery delta in Tami Nadu is in full swing and water should be provided till the end of January 2016, it submitted.

Tamil Nadu further pointed out that the storage at Mettur as on October 16 was 31.133 tmcft, which is “totally inadequate” to sustain the demand for the remaining period in October to January. It said Karnataka was “flouting” the final order passed by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal by taking up new schemes/projects.

Tamil Nadu also urged the Supreme Court to direct the supervisory committee to monitor and ensure the release of water as per the final order of the tribunal and restrain diversion of water in Karnataka before it reaches the 4 major reservoirs there.