The Supreme Court has given Karnataka one week to respond to Tamil Nadu’s plea alleging a shortfall of about 21,000 million cubic feet of Cauvery water, with the next hearing scheduled for October 12. The order comes as Karnataka cites drought conditions and weakening monsoon inflows while Tamil Nadu says its crops have been affected by inadequate releases.
A bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath directed Karnataka to file its response on Thursday. During the hearing, Tamil Nadu argued that the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee and the Cauvery Water Management Authority had not addressed the deficit it says is owed by Karnataka.
Senior advocate CS Vaidyanathan, appearing for Tamil Nadu along with senior advocate G Umapathy, said Karnataka was releasing only low quantities of water despite having a sizeable supply. He told the court that Karnataka had realised 112.7 thousand million cubic feet between June 1 and September 9. The state had also drawn 19.3 thousand million cubic feet through canals linked to four reservoirs, 3.9 thousand million cubic feet through Anaicut channels and 4 thousand million cubic feet through diversion at the Kabini dam, taking the total yield cited by Tamil Nadu to 140 thousand million cubic feet.
Vaidyanathan said Tamil Nadu was normally entitled to 97.4 thousand million cubic feet but had received 35 thousand million cubic feet. He also told the court that the state’s kharif crop had been affected. Tamil Nadu’s submission forms the basis of its plea and remains contested by Karnataka.
Karnataka told the court that it was facing a severe drought, with more than 200 taluks declared drought-hit. Senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for the state along with senior advocate Mohan Katarki, said entire districts had been declared drought-prone. “Yet, we have taken it on the chin and done our best to comply,” Divan said, according to the report.
The state also pointed to the role of the Cauvery Water Management Authority, describing it as an expert body that was monitoring the situation regularly. The factors being considered include live storage in designated reservoirs, the declining trend in inflows into Karnataka’s four reservoirs, rainfall expected over the next fortnight, drinking-water requirements, industrial and environmental flows, and the impact of El Nino, Divan said.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said in Chitradurga that the government would release water if it was available, but reservoir inflows had stopped and the monsoon had weakened. He said he would discuss the next step with the irrigation minister. Shivakumar also said drought-like conditions required a clear plan to protect farmers and seek assistance from the Centre.
The state’s position is that it has met its obligations as the upper riparian state to the best of its ability under difficult hydrological conditions. Divan told the court that Karnataka was unlikely to receive more rain, while Tamil Nadu could benefit from the approaching northeast monsoon.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to take up the matter again on October 12, after Karnataka files its response to Tamil Nadu’s plea.
