SC orders Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs daily for six days

The Supreme Court on Friday ordered the Karanataka government to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery river water every day to Tamil Nadu for six days, starting October 1, while asking it to shun its stance of continued defiance of its order.

The apex court also directed the central government to constitute the Cauvery Management Board by October 4, and told Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry to inform the central government of their nominees by 4 p.m. on Saturday.

The court said that soon after it is set up, the CMB would visit the spot for an assessment of the ground situation and report back to it.

The bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Uday Umesh Lalit expressed its displeasure over the continued defiance of its last three orders by the Siddaramaiah's government in Karnataka.

The top court by its September 5, September 12, September 20 and September 27 had asked Karnataka to release water to Tamil Nadu. Except for first two orders which were partially complied with, the last two were met with total defiance.

Telling Karnataka government that it was its "last chance" to fall in line, the bench said: "We are granting this opportunity as a last chance. We are passing this order despite assembly resolution," which practically said no release of water to Tamil Nadu.

"The State of Karnataka should not be bent upon maintaining a stand of defiance, where the wrath of law fall on them," it said in its order.

Though without saying so, the court left nothing to doubt that Karnataka was inching towards troubles, Justice Mishra told senior counsel Shekhar Naphade, appearing for Tamil Nadu, that they "understand your anguish".

Naphade had told the court that: "We are not saying anything. We have been shabbily treated. There is nothing that the State of Tamil Nadu wants to place before the court. We are not saying anything."

At this Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi said: "I think the court is doing its best. We must appreciate it."

At the outset of the hearing, Rohatgi apprised the court of the meeting that Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bhatrti had with Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Tamil Nadu's PWD Minister Edappadi K. Palanisamy in pursuance to the court's September 27 order to convene the meeting of the Chief Ministers to break the impasse.

He said at the end, the "the ball is back in the court" as during the meeting, Karnataka expressed its helplessness in releasing the water citing its problem of drinking water and standing crops, while Tamil Nadu stuck to its position that Karnataka had to fall in line and comply with the court's order on releasing Cauvery water.

--IANS

pk/vd