'Live and let live' says SC as Karnataka refuses to give Cauvery water to TN

New Delhi: The Karnataka Government on Friday filed its reply in the Supreme Court to the Tamil Nadu Government's plea for an urgent judicial direction to Bengaluru to release 50.052 tmcft (thousand million cubic feet) of Cauvery water from its reservoirs to feed the agricultural lands of the neighbouring state.

The Karnataka Government said it is in deficit of 80 tmcft water and hence cannot give water to Tamil Nadu.

During the hearing, Justice Dipak Mishra observed, "Live and Let Live principle should be kept in mind. Both states should live in harmony."

The hearing in the case has been adjourned till Monday.

The apex Court will look into the features of Cauvery Tribunal Award and decide on Tamil Nadu's plea seeking release of 50.052 tmcft water.

A three-judge bench of Chief Justice T.S. Thakur and Justices A.M. Kanwilkar and D.Y. Chandrachud had fixed the date of hearing on a mention made by senior counsel Shekar Naphade for urgent listing of the application in which the state also sought an interim direction to Karnataka to release 25 tmcft of water forthwith to enable the farmers in the state to raise the Samba crop.

Earlier, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah informed that the Tamil Nadu Government in their application filed before the Supreme Court had made a prayer that the Court should direct his government to release 50.052 tmcft of water as per the normal year.

He said Karnataka is facing a severe distressed year and added that both states should share the Cauvery water as per the distress pro-rata basis.