Karnataka legislature resolves to release Cauvery water to TN

bengaluru — A joint session of the Karnataka legislature on Monday unanimously passed a resolution to release water for irrigation purposes to farmers in the state, some of which will flow to Tamil Nadu.

Though the modified resolution did not mention Tamil Nadu, it is implied that some of the water will go to the neighbouring state.

The resolution is for release of water to farmers in the Cauvery basin for crops and for drinking requirement.

This comes in the wake of the Supreme Court rapping the Karnataka government for not following its orders on release of water.

“Have you released some water? There can be a part compliance of our order. We can understand your difficulty,” it said on Monday when senior counsel Shekhar Naphade, appearing for Tamil Nadu, said Karnataka has not released any water as directed by the apex court.

Earlier on Monday, the Centre told the Supreme Court that it has no jurisdiction to direct it to set-up the Cauvery Management Board as it was just a recommendation of the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal and not binding on the government.

Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi made the submission before the bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Uday Umesh Lalit while mentioning the Centre’s application for modification of the apex court’s September 30 order that directed the constitution of the Cauvery Management Board.

While fixing the hearing on the application on Tuesday at 2pm, the bench reminded the Attorney General that he had agreed on the last date of hearing that the Centre would constitute the Cauvery Management Board by October 4.

The Attorney General told the bench that he had made a mistake by committing to set up the Cauvery Management Board. Even as the Centre tried to wriggle out of its commitment to set up the board, the bench questioned Karnataka why it has not released the water.

As Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi urged the court to hear the Centre’s application seeking modification of September 30 order, Naphade opposed it, asking what was the hurry as Karnataka was not complying with the court’s order and will not comply at all.

Naphade told the court: “There is much more to it (Centre’s application seeking modification of September 30 order) than what meets the eye. Have it on Thursday (When matter is listed for hearing) as it is their (Karnataka) is not giving water, come what may.”

Meanwhile, political parties in Tamil Nadu were on Monday up against the BJP-led central government for its ‘U’ turn in the Supreme Court on forming the Cauvery Management Board.