Cauvery Water Dispute: SC Refuses to Pass any Order on Tamil Nadu Govt Plea

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to passed any order regarding the Tamil Nadu government’s request for the release of 24,000 cusecs of Cauvery water daily from Karnataka for standing crops.

A bench of Justice BR Gavai, Justice PK Misra and Justice PS Narasimha asked the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) for a report on the quantity of water released by Karnataka. This comes after Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati informed the court that a CWMA meeting is scheduled for 28th August, 2023.

“We do not possess any expertise on the matter. The ASG informs that the authority is meeting on Monday to decide the discharge of water for the next fortnight.” The bench, which also includes Justices PS Narasimha and PK Mishra, added, “We find that it will be appropriate for the CWMA to submit its report on whether the directions issued for water discharge have been complied with or not.” Justice Gavai noted.

The Karnataka government has criticized Tamil Nadu’s plea, which seeks a top court directive for the release of 24,000 cusecs of Cauvery water daily for standing crops. In an affidavit filed with the Supreme Court, the Karnataka government labeled Tamil Nadu’s plea as “wholly misconceived.”

The affidavit stated that Tamil Nadu’s assumption that the current water year is a normal one, rather than a distressed water year, is incorrect.