Cauvery row: Supreme Court asks Karnataka to comply with water release directions to Tamil Nadu
The Supreme Court on Monday directed Karnataka to comply with the Cauvery Water Management Authority’s (CWMA) directions on the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.The court posted for hearing on August 24 Tamil Nadu’s plea seeking directions for the release of water.It said the matter could be taken up then, allowing an updated status on the water released by Karnataka to be placed before the court.Tamil Nadu approached the Supreme Court on August 3, saying it was not receiving its allocated share of Cauvery water despite the state facing a rain-deficient year.The state government alleged that both the quantity recommended for release by the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee and the water actually supplied by Karnataka were well below its requirement.Tamil Nadu said recent rainfall in the catchment areas of the KRS and Kabini reservoirs had increased the volume of water due to the state.According to the state government, the proportionate share due at Biligundlu should be 26.954 TMC.At a meeting on July 28, the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee directed Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days from July 29. Tamil Nadu, however, said the actual flow recorded at Biligundlu on the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border ranged between 158 and 550 cusecs from July 29 to August 2.
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The state government also cited storage levels in Karnataka’s four reservoirs. As of August 3, the combined storage in the Krishna Raja Sagara, Kabini, Harangi and Hemavathy reservoirs stood at 77.537 TMC, according to a Tamil Nadu government statement.Tamil Nadu said the available storage indicated that Karnataka could release the state’s due share without difficulty.
