Cauvery row: Karnataka govt files appeals in SC against release of water to TN

On Sep 20, the SC had directed Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs from September 21 to 27 to TN.

New Delhi: The Karnataka government on Monday filed a petition seeking modification of court's order on Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.

The petition comes after both houses of the Karnataka assembly passed resolutions mandating use of  Cauvery water for no other purpose other than drinking water for cities in the river's basin, including Bengaluru.

Through the petition, the Karnataka government is believed to have requested the apex court that release of water to Tamil Nadu be deferred as the water available in the four reservoirs will be needed to meet the drinking water requirements of towns and cities in the region.

The resolution noted that in the water year 2016-17, there has been an acute situation of distress but the shortfall in the basin will become known only at the end of the season on January 31, 2017.

It pointed out that the combined storage in four reservoirs in the Cauvery basin -- Krishnaraja Sagar, Hemavathy, Harangi and Kabini -- had reached "alarmingly low levels at 27 TMC ft."

"It is now resolved to direct that in this state of acute distress, it is imperative that the government ensures that no water from the present storages be drawn save and except for meeting drinking water requirements of villages and towns in the Cauvery basin and Bengaluru," it said.

The Cauvery Supervisory Committee had on September 19 asked Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs per day from September 21 to 30, but the apex court had on September 20 doubled the quantum to 6,000 cusecs from September 21 to 27 after Tamil Nadu pressed for water to save its samba paddy crop.

It had also directed the Centre to constitute within four weeks the Cauvery Water Management Board as directed by Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal in its award.