The Supreme Court on Monday asked Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa and Karnataka chief minister Jagadish Shettar to meet and find an amicable solution to the Cauvery river water dispute.

The apex court bench of justice DK Jain and justice Madan B Lokur said both the chief ministers should give top priority to the interests of farmers while finding an amicable solution.

The court said, "There would be a problem if either of the two sides blinks, so we want them to meet in a congenial atmosphere."

The court said this in the course of the hearing of Tamil Nadu's petition seeking direction to Karnataka to release 9,000 cusecs of water every day for 15 days as directed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who presided over the meeting of the Cauvery River Authority September 19.

The Cauvery River Authority comprises all the basin states - Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala, besides the union territory of Puducherry.