Cauvery row: Will Supreme Court modify our parched hopes?
The state government has pleaded that it will release the deficit quantity before January 31, 2017, the end of the season.
New Delhi: The Karnataka government on Monday moved the Supreme Court seeking modification of the order directing it to release 6,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu every day from September 21 to 27. The state government has pleaded that it will release the deficit quantity before January 31, 2017, the end of the season.
Ahead of the hearing on Tuesday, Karnataka in its application said that the releases already ordered by the apex court on September 20 be treated as arrears or shortfall to be cleared by Karnataka subsequently.
It placed on record the resolution passed by the Legislative Assembly that in the water year 2016-2017, there has been an acute distress, but the shortfall in the basin will be known only at the end of the season. The present storage is only 27.3 tmcft and in a year of insufficient rainfall and distress, the state is obliged to reserve supply of 135 litres per capita per day in urban areas and 70 litres per capita per day in rural areas.
Tamil Nadu cries contempt
Tamil Nadu objected to Karnataka’s plea for modification of the apex court’s order of September 20. “The present is a case where the instrumentalities of the state in utter defiance to the constitutional mandate have failed to honour and obey the order passed by this court. It is reiterated that the state of Karnataka and its instrumentalities are bound to obey the order and the failure to do the same, amounts to recurring contempt of this court's order dated September 20 and the earlier orders," said Tamil Nadu in its plea.
Ban orders today
Prohibitory orders will be clamped on the city from 6 am till midnight on Tuesday as the Supreme Court is set to hear the state’s plea on Cauvery row Tuesday.
Security has been heightened and additional forces have been deployed in sensitive areas. City Police Commissioner N.S. Megharikh said that over 15,000-plus police personnel along with reserve police battalions will monitor law and order in the city.
Conducting processions with banners or placards, forming groups, burning effigies, use of loud speakers to address crowds, and playing music is banned. People have been warned not to force anyone to shut shops or force to take part in protests, Mr Megharikh said.
