The Tribunal, comprising chairman Justice N P Singh and

members N S Rao and Sudhir Narain, in a unanimous award in February, 2007 had determined the total availability of water in the Cauvery basin at 740 thousand million cubic (TMC) feet at the Lower Coleroon Anicut site. The proceedings of the Tribunal, set up in June, 1990, went on for more than 16 years. In, what was then described as a balancing act, the Tribunal gave Tamil Nadu 419 TMC of water(as against the demand of 562 TMC); Karnataka 270 TMC (as against its demand of 465 TMC); Kerala 30 TMC and Puducherry 7 TMC. For environmental protection, it had reserved 10 TMC. Reacting angrily to the Centre notifying the final award of the CWDT, the former Prime Minister and JDS supremo H D Deve Gowda announced "peaceful struggle" against the move. "If it becomes inevitable, fasting will be Deve Gowda's last resort", he told reporters at Bangalore. In its civil appeals before the Supreme Court, Karnataka challenged even the recommendation for the constitution of a Board. "The proposed Board will adversely affect the absolute authority of the State to regulate its reservoirs derived from Entry-17 of the State List. This would be an unjust and unconstitutional measure which is against the spirit of the Cooperative Federal System. Therefore, it is not appropriate to constitute a Management Board", officials said. Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly Siddaramaiah sought to blame the State government vis-a-vis the notification, alleging that it gave an undertaking in the apex court that it had no objection for the notification of the final award. Meanwhile, bus services from Udhagamandalam and Krishnagiri towards Karnataka were stopped apprehending trouble over the gazette notification. Police and officials at Kakkanalla checkpost, near the Karnataka border, are advising taxis and car owners, with Tamil Nadu registration, not to venture into Karnataka, as they anticipated trouble following the notification of the final award, sources added.