SC refuses to pass order on TN govt’s plea to direct K’taka to release 24,000 cusecs water

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday refused to pass an order on the Tamil Nadu government’s plea seeking release of 24,000 cusecs of water daily by Karnataka for irrigating standing crops.

A three-judge bench headed by Justice BR Gavai sought a report from the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) on the amount of water released by Karnataka, after Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati informed that a meeting of the authority is scheduled for Monday.

“We do not possess any expertise on the matter. The ASG informs that authority is meeting on Monday to decide discharge of water for next fortnight.

“We find that it will be appropriate that CWMA submits its report on whether the directions issued for discharge of water have been complied or not,” the bench, said.

Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre, informed the bench that the meeting of CWMA is scheduled to be held on August 28 to consider the discharge of water for the next 15 days.

Senior advocate Shyam Divan, representing Karnataka, said it has been a distressing year for the state, and since it received scanty rainfall, a shortfall in releasing water to Tamil Nadu is inevitable.

He said water earmarked by CWMA has been discharged but it takes three days for it to reach TN.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Tamil Nadu, said water has not been made available to the lower riparian state despite orders from CWMA. (PTI)