After two weeks, Karnataka falls in line, will release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu

BENGALURU/NEW DELHI: Karnataka decided on Monday to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, after twice deferring Supreme Court orders to share the river’s water with

BENGALURU/NEW DELHI: Karnataka decided on Monday to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, after twice deferring Supreme Court orders to share the river’s water with its neighbour.

HT Image

The state assembly passed are solution to discharge water to farmers in the Cauvery basin, including Tamil Nadu, to meet irrigation and drinking water requirements. But the amount of water to be released was not mentioned.

The top court asked Karnataka on September 30 to discharge 6,000 cusecs from October 1 to 6. Again on Monday, the court asked Karnataka to stop defying its order.

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said the state has no intention to disrespect the Supreme Court’s orders now that rainfall in the past 10 days has eased the water shortage.

Karnataka had cited poor monsoon and depleted reservoirs to deny Tamil Nadu the water that it sought to save its paddy crop.

As the century-old row simmered, the Centre did a volte face on Monday and opposed a top court order to set up a Cauvery Water Management Board, an authority to instruct or suggest measures and settle disputes. Attorney general Mukul Rohatgi requested the bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra to reconsider its order, saying only Parliament has the power to constitute such a board.