NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has lowered the amount of Cauvery water due to Tamil Nadu, from 404.25 tmcft from the 419 tmcft allotted by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, citing the requirement of drinking water for Bengaluru. The court said that drinking water has to be kept on the highest pedestal. It also took note of the fact that Bengaluru's industrial needs have also risen, along with its need for more drinking water.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra authored an unanimous verdict of the three-judge bench. Mohan V Katarki, counsel for the state of Karnataka said, “We are very happy with the verdict. The verdict is a balance verdict which protects interest of both the states. This is a good judgment which will go long way in ensuring peace in both the states.” The SC permitted Tamil Nadu to draw additional 10 tmcft ground water from a total available 20 tmcft beneath Cauvery basin. The Tamil Nadu Cauvery water share would only reduce by 4.75 tmcft. So, the SC said, Karnatak will release 177.255 tmcft Cauvery water to TN from the inter-state Biligundlu dam each year.
The apex court said that with the minor changes, it is fully endorsing the method used by the Tribunal to give its final award in 2007. The CWDT, in February 2007, had ordered that Tamil should receive 419 tmcft of water and Karnataka should release 192 tmcft of water to Tamil Nadu in 10 monthly installments every year. The most recent verdict was based on petitions filed by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, both of whom were unhappy with the 2007 order. Karnataka had challenged the award in the SC.
