Supreme Court order to be crucial turn for Tamil Nadu, Karnataka

Arupathi Kalayanam, general secretary of Federation of Farmers Associations – Cauvery Delta, said, “We hope for the ‘better’ from the Supreme Court. We expect the three-judge bench of SC to remove the problems Tamil Nadu faced after the final verdict.” 

Claiming that Tamil Nadu had received 378 tmcft of water every year from 1934-70, he said the Cauvery tribunal had gone by the six year average of 1980-90 period in fixing 205 tmcft as TN’s quota in the interim award. He also said the quantum was further reduced to 192 tmcft (including 10 tmcft environmental factor) in the final award in 2007.  

“Water released during June-September period is crucial for kuruvai and samba cultivation. We expect the SC to consider the long-term average and protect TN farmers,” added Kalyanam, who claimed that preventing summer irrigation in Karnataka was another major issue to be addressed by the apex court. 

Remarking that the SC shall not have engaged the petitions of the contending states, professor Janakarajan, who has worked extensively on water-economics, said, “SC could have directed the states to approach the tribunal as per the inter-state Water Disputes Act 1956, based on which the tribunal was directed.  “People would lose faith in the judiciary if the Supreme Court suggests another formula or revises the final verdict of the tribunal after sleeping over it for 10 years,” he said. 

Politically, the verdict, if it goes against the interest of Tamil Nadu, could prove to be a catalyst for an already buoyant Siddharamaiah-led Congress party. Back here, CM Edappadi K Palaniswami’s regime could face another setback. 

Sept 20, 2016: The SC ordered formation of Cauvery Water Management Board after Karnataka refused to release water to TN citing distress situation

Sept29: Former CM J Jayalalithaa lashed at Karnataka in the meeting convened on the directions of the SC

Oct1: Karnataka filed a review petition against the SC order to release 6,000 cusecs to TN 

October 3, 2016: SC accepts Centre’s u-turn on the constitution of the Board and defers the decision

February 5, 2007: the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal announced its final verdict.