TN approaches Supreme Court for 50 tmcft of Cauvery water

Tamil Nadu on Monday approached the Supreme Court seeking direction to Karnataka to release 50.052 tmcft of Cauvery water from its reservoirs for samba cultivation.

It accused Karnataka of diverting river water meant to be a “life-saver for Tamil Nadu farmers during distress years for undeclared projects in violation of the final orders of Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal in 2007”.

“The attempt of Karnataka to deliberately undermine the final order of the tribunal by drawing water for summer irrigation and by planning and executing new schemes has to be stopped, failing which the inhabitants of the applicant state will be put to irreparable loss and hardship,” it contended.

 Claiming Karnataka flouted principles of federalism and inter-state water-sharing, Tamil Nadu maintained that it has not received daily/monthly releases of Cauvery water from June 1 to August 19, 2016, causing a cumulative shortfall of 50.052 tmcft at Biligundlu.

Tamil Nadu said its request to Karnataka made on July 30 to make good the shortfall of 22.934 tmcft as on July 26 did not receive a reply till date.

Among others, Tamil Nadu also made a plea for a direction to Karnataka to make good the 25 tmcft of water at Biligundlu out of the shortfall of 50 tmcft within the next 10 days so as to commence samba cultivation.

It urged the court to direct Karnataka to replenish the remaining shortfall of 25 tmcft of water at Biligundlu before the third week of September so as to sustain samba cultivation.

State to provide details of water levels
Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra on Monday said Karnataka would furnish a detailed explanation before the Supreme Court on the status of water levels in the state’s reservoirs.
Reacting to Tamil Nadu’s plea before the Supreme Court seeking its share of Cauvery water from Karnataka, Jayachandra said that both Tamil Nadu and the Centre are aware of the water crisis in Karnataka. Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, he said that it is ironic how Tamil Nadu is seeking water for agricultural activities, while Karnataka was struggling to meet its drinking water needs.