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Cauvery Water Judgment – Supreme Court lessen allocation to Tamil Nadu

Supreme Court reduces the allocation of Cauvery water from Karnataka to Tamil Nadu as it declared Cauvery as a national asset. Chief Justice Dipak Mishra led special bench. It means that now Karnataka will supply only 177.25 tmc Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.

Additionally, Supreme Court also considered that Bengaluru had achieved the global status. So its drinking water necessities have been increased. The court did not consider the mounting requirements of Bengaluru.  And thought that it would make it with its 60 percent of groundwater supply.

However, the fact is that the groundwater had been dried up with the burgeoning population of the city. So, as a result, Supreme Court decided to allocate about 4.75 tmc Cauvery Water to Bengaluru. Despite the fact that the city is situated outside the Cauvery basin.

Supreme Court also cautioned the States that they would not deviate from the verdict or utilize the allocated water for other than chosen requirements. It also said that this water allocation arrangement should stand for about next 15 years and will remain unchanged.

Court says Interstate River is a national asset

The verdict clarifies that the constitution has granted equal status to all Status as it is an interstate river. This interstate river is a national asset and on single state can declare its full rights over its waters.  The court also refused to accept Karnataka’s argument regarding its bargaining power in 1892 as well as in 1924. As the state argues regarding the post-dam agreements on Cauvery water allocation. The state says that it had no bargaining power amid the Mysore which is now a part of Karnataka and Madras presidency which also includes Kerala.

What is the matter regarding Cauvery water?

On this Supreme Court alleged that the principle of paramountcy did not apply to the agreements of 1892 as well as 1924. As Supreme Court clarifies that those agreements were not political arrangements but were based on public interest.

This verdict comes about four months following the appeals filed by Tamil Nadu, Kerala as well as Karnataka aligned with the final award of Cauvery Tribunal in 2007. It was regarding the allocation of Cauvery water to these three states. Karnataka state compliant regarding the lack of clarity of  Cauvery water allocation . State  told Supreme Court about the incapability to supply Tamil Nadu about 192 tmc water.

The overall accessibility of water all along the Cauvery basin which is 802 km long is about 740tmc in a normal year. However, CWDT allocated 419tmc to Tamil Nadu, 270 tmc to Karnataka. Along with it  30 tmc to Kerala and about seven tmc to Puducherry. In addition to this, the tribunal reserved ten tmc of water for other environmental purposes . As well as four tmc for natural outlets.

On this matter, Kamal Hasan alleged that‘ Cauvery water dispute is the matter of primary need and the politics.’ He is shocked at the SC order to lessen the water supply to Tamil Nadu. Along with him TTV Dhinakaran, AIADMK leader expressed disappointment regarding the Cauvery water verdict.

On the other hand, P Ayyakannu president of Tamil Nadu Farmer’s association and former Karnataka CM Jagadish Shettar both welcome the Cauvery water verdict.

 

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