Will Cauvery panel defer its decision?

According to sources, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have submitted data on withdrawal of water, its utilisation, variation in rainfall and its impact on the actual runoff over a period of 29 years in their respective Cauvery basin areas. The data is being analysed by officials from the Union Water Resources Ministry and Central Water Commission. 

The panel had failed to arrive at a decision on the quantum of water to be released by Karnataka after September 20 during its last meeting for want of adequate information. Therefore, it had asked them to provide the information by September 15. 

In an interim order on September 5, Supreme Court had asked Karnataka to release 15,000 cusec of Cauvery water daily for next 10 days to Tamil Nadu, leading to protests in parts of Karnataka. 

The apex court had also asked Tamil Nadu government to approach the committee, headed by Union Water Resources Secretary Shashi Shekhar, to decide on the quantum of Cauvery water to be released to Tamil Nadu and other states after the period of 10 days was over. 

However, under pressure following the protests, the Karnataka government approached the Supreme Court on September 11 seeking modification of the interim order. Hearing the plea, the SC then amended its order, directing Karnataka to release a reduced quantum of 12,000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu till September 20. 

“We will take decision on the matter as directed by the Supreme Court on September 5 when it had asked us to stick to the language of Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal while deciding on the quantum of the water,” the source added.