Cauvery: It's better to comply with SC order, says legal team representing Karnataka
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government intends to argue at a meeting of the Union Water Resources Ministry chaired by minister Uma Bharathi on September 29 that it cannot immediately comply with the Supreme Court order on release of water to Tamil Nadu as its present storage is inadequate to meet the state’s drinking water needs in summer.
It will also contend that even if the reservoirs receive more inflow, the water will be required for irrigation in Mandya, Mysuru and Hassan and is likely to offer to release water to Tamil Nadu in November after assessing the north east monsoon in October, according to official sources.
But the legal team representing Karnataka in the case before the apex court has reportedly advised it to comply with its order to release 6000 cusecs to TN from September 28-30.
A senior advocate representing Karnataka says that if it obeys the order it will not amount to breach of privilege of the legislature, which recently resolved not to tap the Cauvery reservoirs except for supply of drinking water to Bengaluru.
Pointing out that the storage of the four reservoirs in the Cauvery basin has risen by 3.69 tmc feet of water in six days since the legislature passed the resolution on September 23, he says the increase in the water level should make it easier for the state to release water to TN as ordered.
Going by a water resources department release , the live storage of the reservoirs increased from 27.6 tmc feet on September 23 to 31. 29 tmc feet on September 27. The gross storage of all four reservoirs is 40.43 tmc feet.
“The question of breach of privilege will not arise because the legislature passed the resolution with respect to 27.6 tmcfeet and was silent on extra inflow into reservoirs,” the advocate reasoned, warning that defiance could invite contempt action.
Deve Gowda warns of water war
Janata Dal (S) patriarch H.D. Deve Gowda on Wednesday warned of a water war and an imminent revolt by farmers while expressing his ire about the Supreme Court’s latest order for release of 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu for three years.
An emotional Mr Gowda told the media here how he had wept while in the Lok Sabha speaking about the Cauvery dispute once and wondered whether he would be pushed to a similar plight as he questioned the apex court’s order on ensuring flow of water to the neighbouring state rather than ask a team of experts to visit the riparian states and assess current water levels in the reservoirs.
“The state government convened a special session and took a decision not to release water but save it for drinking. It is not for defying the court’s order. I am not a legal luminary. As a common man, I have a question: Is the Supreme Court direction for release of water appropriate? Will water released from the state’s reservoirs flow back? So, why can’t the Supreme Court send a team to reservoirs of both states and assess the storage levels in both these states? Will Tamil Nadu’s crops dry within three days though there is 50 TMC feet water in Mettur reservoir in Tamil Nadu? I have never heard such arguments in 50 years as a politician,” he added.
Wishing Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa speedy recovery, Mr Gowda said “I have no grudge against Amma. Let her get well soon. Amma ensures supply of water to everyone in Tamil Nadu. Who will do it here? You can push a person to the wall. After a point, however, everyone will revolt,” he warned.
