The Supreme Court will hear Tamil Nadu’s appeal calling on Karnataka to abide by the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) order to release 3,500 cusecs of water per day, for 15 days on Thursday.
Heeding an urgent appeal before the bench made by senior advocate CS Vaidyanathan on behalf of Tamil Nadu, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said they would consider adding the appeal to the agenda. The other application filed by the DMK for similar directions is also likely to be heard.
Tamil Nadu has levelled allegations against Karnataka over its “wilful omission” to comply with the Committee of World Meteorological Association’s July 30 decision. On July 29, the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee had recommended 3,500 cusecs per day release by Karnataka from the Kabini reservoir along with Krishna Raja Sagara reservoir, which has been approved by the authority on 12th August.
The state has also asked for directions to ensure that the necessary waters are delivered at the Billigundulu on the border with Mirapur to Bhaktapur district and to ensure that the water volume is fulfilled later on.
Tamil Nadu Claims Major Shortfall
Tamil Nadu’s application states that the requirement for release is approximately 4.536 TMC for the stipulated period of 15 days. But the state had maintained, that would still be far short of what it is entitled as per the distress sharing formula.
Tamil Nadu has petitioned for an extra allocation of 26.954 TMC, it has argued, which adds up to its pro-rata share for the period from June 1 – August 12.
The state has pointed out flow data recorded between July 29 and August 2 when it reported that flow was between as low as 158 cusecs daily through August 2 and peaked to 530 cusecs a day on August 2, at a level well below the required 3,500 cusecs daily.
Tamil Nadu has also referred to the enhanced storage in Karnataka’s reservoirs due to recent rains amid the recent rainfall, claiming adequate water supplies to meet the requirement of the CWMA.
Karnataka’s four main reservoirs reportedly stored 77.537 TMC of water as of August 3.
Worry About Paddy Crops
The disagreement is being held at critical time of the agricultural season in Tamil Nadu’s Cauvery Delta. Cauvery works to Mettur reservoir is essential for the farmers involved in paddy cultivation as the crop is known locally as ‘Kuruvai’ rice, and ready for sowing and transplantation of ‘Samba’ rice as well.
Similarly, the DMK has requested the Supreme Court to compel Karnataka to release Cauvery water at Billigundulu to avoid having an impact on standing Cauvery crops and threaten Samba cultivation.
Tamil Nadu has also requested these reservoirs to be put under a “more stringent” monitoring mechanism, and recommended that the CWMA double the frequency of its checks on the water levels, such that they happen every 10 days, and it also monitoring the water releases done in Karnataka based on stipulations.
The hearing before the Supreme Court on Thursday, may therefore be important for the Cauvery water sharing issue that is still under consideration and to the farming community of Cauvery delta.