NEW DELHI: The Apex Court has dismissed a plea filed by the Karnataka government, seeking review of its September 20, 2016 order asking it to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water per day to neighbouring Tamil Nadu till September 27. Saying that it has become “infrasturous” as several other orders were passed subsequently, a bench of Justices Dipak Misra and UU Lalit rejected the review plea and that it deserves to become “extinct”.
The Supreme Court had directed the Karnataka government last year on September 20, to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water per day to Tamil Nadu, while raising the quantum fixed by the Supervisory Committee by 3,000 cusecs. Meanwhile, during the brief hearing, senior counsel Shekhar Naphade, appearing for the Tamil Nadu government, raised the issue of severe drinking water crisis in the coastal state and alleged that Karnataka is not honouring its obligations. “We are having severe drinking water problem in Tamil Nadu, but Karnataka is not giving that,” he said.
In its September 20 order, the SC had also directed the Centre to constitute the Cauvery Water Management Board as asked by Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal in its award. It has now said it would commence the final hearing of the appeals filed by both the states, and Kerala, on July 11.
