The Supreme Court will hear on Monday a petition filed by the Tamil Nadu government seeking directions to Karnataka to immediately release the state’s stipulated share of Cauvery river water.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay had approached the Supreme Court on August 3. On August 12, the court said petitions filed by the Tamil Nadu government and other parties in the Cauvery water dispute would be heard on August 17.
Tamil Nadu alleges shortfall in water release
The Tamil Nadu government has claimed that both the quantity of water stipulated for the state by the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) and the actual water released by Karnataka are significantly below the required levels.
At a CWRC meeting held on July 28, Karnataka was directed to release 3,500 cusecs of Cauvery water daily for 15 days from July 29.
However, Tamil Nadu said water flow recorded at Biligundulu between July 29 and August 2 ranged from only 158 cusecs to 550 cusecs.
Tamil Nadu cites 77.537 TMC water storage in Karnataka
According to a Tamil Nadu government press release, Karnataka’s Kabini, Harangi and Hemavathi reservoirs had a combined storage of 77.537 TMC as of August 3.
Tamil Nadu argued that Karnataka therefore should not face difficulty in releasing the state’s stipulated share of Cauvery water in accordance with the prescribed proportion.
