Supreme Court Asks Tamil Nadu to Raise Cauvery Water Dispute with CWMA

The Supreme Court on Monday asked Tamil Nadu to take up its grievance with the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) that Karnataka was not releasing the State's proportionate share of Cauvery water. Appearing for Tamil Nadu, the counsel submitted that the State was not receiving the proportionate quantity of water it was entitled to. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, however, noted that Karnataka had already released water in compliance with the directions issued by the CWMA.

"You have already received the water as directed by CWMA," the bench observed while hearing Tamil Nadu's plea seeking directions for the release of its due share of Cauvery water. Tamil Nadu's counsel disputed this, submitting that the CWMA had not directed Karnataka to release the proportionate quantity of water that Tamil Nadu was entitled to receive. In view of the dispute, the bench asked Tamil Nadu to approach the CWMA and raise the issue before the authority. The matter will next be taken up on August 31.

On August 17, the top court had asked the Karnataka government to ensure compliance with the CWMA directions on the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu has approached the top court seeking enforcement of a decision by the CWMA directing Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of Cauvery water daily for 15 days.

The DMK, the opposition party in the state, had also approached the Supreme Court seeking a direction to the Karnataka government to immediately release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu in accordance with the February 16, 2018 judgment of the apex court and subsequent directions issued by the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) and the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA).