SC refuses to consider TN's plea for Cauvery water release

The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to consider a plea by Tamil Nadu to direct Karnataka to release 30 tmc ft of Cauvery river water forthwith from Billigundlu for crop cultivation.

A three-judge bench presided over by Chief Justice Dipak Misra told a Tamil Nadu government advocate, who made an urgent mentioning of acute shortage of water, that no interim order would be passed in the matter as the judgement on civil appeals against the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal's 2007 decision had been reserved.

The court, however, asked senior advocate F S Nariman, representing Karnataka, to find out the ground reality. The court had earlier directed Karnataka to continue release of 2,000 cusecs of river water every day.

In its plea, Tamil Nadu claimed a shortfall of 63 tmc ft of water, affecting the farmers in the Cauvery basin. The bench had, in September, concluded its hearing in appeals and reserved the judgement.