SC to constitute bench to hear Cauvery row

New Delhi, NT Bureau: The Supreme Court said on Monday it will constitute a bench to hear the decades-old dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka over sharing Cauvery river water even as Karnataka BJP workers staged a demonstration and burnt the effigies of Congress leaders in Mandya for releasing water to Tamil Nadu.

The independent MP from Mandya Sumalatha Ambareesh too joined the protesters.

In the Supreme Court, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Tamil Nadu, said an application has been filed by the state seeking release of water for the month of August which has been ordered by the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA).

Rohatgi told the apex court that a bench will have to be constituted to hear the matter.

"Today, I will constitute a bench," the CJI said. On August 11, Tamil Nadu had said it had no other option but to approach the apex court to get its genuine share of Cauvery water.