SC Asks Karnataka to Release 15,000 Cusecs of Cauvery Water

New Delhi: Supreme Court on Monday directed Karnataka to release 15,000 cusecs of Cauvery water per day to Tamil Nadu for the next 10 days to help farmers there who gface crop damage due to loss of water.

This has come as a huge blow to Karnataka which is facing a shortage water because the monsoon has been below-normal - up to 30-40% less in some areas - this year. The KRS Dam near Mysore which is a main dam across Cauvery river has just 96 TMC feet of water as against its maximum storage limit of 124 Feet water.

Noting that the samba crops in Tamil Nadu would be adversely affected, a bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and U U Lalit directed Karnataka to ensure supply of water to Tamil Nadu.

The apex court also directed Tamil Nadu to approach the supervisory committee within three days for the release of Cauvery water as per the final order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal's (CWDT).

The Supreme Court also asked the supervisory committee to decide on Tamil Nadu's plea in ten days from today. "We think it's appropriate to direct Karnataka to release

15,000 cusecs of water per day for ten days," the bench said, while also directing Tamil Nadu to release water to Puducherry appropriately as per its interim arrangement.

The court posted the matter for further hearing on September 16.

The Karnataka government informed the SC that it was not in a position to release any water as the state is facing one of the worst droughts in 40 years. An all-party meeting convened by Karnataka government also supported the decision.

Fali S Nariman, who appeared on behalf of Karnataka, told the Supreme Court that it was not in a position to release the water to Tamil Nadu. According to Cauvery Tribunal decision Karnataka has to release almost 200 TMC feet of water to TN every year. If the monsoon fails, they have to follow the distress sharing formula.

The farmers organisations in the Cauvery area of Karnataka have been opposing release of water to TN. Anticipating trouble, police have made elaborate security arrangements in Mysore, Mandya and Bengaluru.