Cauvery Water Dispute: SC to Hear Pleas on August 13, Karnataka Ordered to Release Water to Tamil Nadu
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear on August 13 pleas from Tamil Nadu, seeking directions to Karnataka to release Cauvery water to the drought-hit state. The development comes as the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) had directed Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of Cauvery water daily for 15 days.
Tamil Nadu Seeks Enforcement of CWMA’s Direction
Tamil Nadu government approached the top court on August 3, challenging the non-implementation of the CWMA’s July 30 direction for the release of water from Karnataka’s Kabini and Krishna Raja Sagara reservoirs. The state has sought a total release of 4.536 TMC of water, corresponding to 3,500 cusecs per day over 15 days. It has urged that the stipulated quantity be released by August 12.
DMK Seeks Immediate Release of Cauvery Water
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the opposition party in the state, had also approached the Supreme Court seeking a direction to the Karnataka government to immediately release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu in accordance with the February 16, 2018 judgment of the apex court and subsequent directions issued by the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) and the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA).
Karnataka’s Failure to Comply with Directions
The DMK, represented by its Farmers Wing Secretary AKS Vijayan, contended that Karnataka has failed to comply with the binding directions despite their affirmation by the statutory authorities constituted under the Cauvery Water Management Scheme, 2018. The application sought direction to the CWMA to monitor the releases from the reservoirs of Karnataka and the flows realised at Biligundlu on a day-to-day basis and to report compliance to the apex court.
Long-Running Dispute Over Cauvery River Waters
The applications come against the backdrop of the long-running dispute between the two states over the sharing of Cauvery river waters. The dispute has been a major issue in the region, affecting the livelihoods of farmers and communities dependent on the river.
SC to Hear Pleas on August 13
The matter was mentioned before a bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana by senior advocate CS Vaidyanathan on behalf of the Tamil Nadu government. The CJI agreed to list the application for hearing on Thursday, August 13.
What’s at Stake?
The release of Cauvery water is crucial for Tamil Nadu, which is facing a severe drought. The state has been demanding that Karnataka release water from its reservoirs to meet the deficit. The dispute has been ongoing for years, with both states accusing each other of not following the agreed-upon water sharing norms.
Conclusion
The Supreme Court’s decision to hear the pleas on August 13 is a significant development in the long-running Cauvery water dispute. The court’s intervention is expected to bring some relief to Tamil Nadu, which is facing a severe drought. However, the outcome of the hearing is uncertain, and the fate of the Cauvery water release hangs in the balance.