New Delhi, Oct 13 (DHNS): Karnataka on Friday claimed before the Supreme Court that it had released more water than 9,000 cusecs per day for Tamil Nadu as against the direction by the Prime Minister-headed Cauvery River Authority.

Tamil Nadu, on the other hand, contended that it received just 20 per cent of the flows even though as per the interim award it had to get 59 per cent in accordance with the
distress formula. It accused Karnataka of irrigating more than the stipulated land.

Senior counsel C S Vaidyanathan, appearing for Tamil Nadu, submitted before a bench of Justices D K Jain and Madan B Lokur that Karnataka was entitled for irrigating just 8.5 lakh hectares but it had used water in 12.5 lakh hectares, disregarding the decision of the tribunal award.

Senior advocate Fali S Nariman, representing Karnataka, claimed that the State had released more than 9,000 cusecs ordered by the CRA on September 19. “It is again a contentious issue. One day you release 3,000 cusecs and other day 13,000 cusecs. It may have lot of repercussions. Some areas may even be flooded. We do not know,” the Bench observed.

Vaidyanathan interjected to say that Tamil Nadu was still facing deficit of 4 tmc ft. He sought time to submit the documents and reports presented before the Cauvery Monitoring Committee. He also referred to CMC’s finding that Tamil Nadu should get 8.85 tmc of water.

The court adjourned the matter for next Friday saying that it may have some relevance. At the outset, the court clarified that it was hearing Tamil Nadu’s interim application seeking direction to Karnataka for release of 2 tmc ft water.

Karnataka also filed a brief affidavit claiming that it had complied with the directions of CRA passed on September 19 and that of the apex court of September 28. “The direction has been more than complied with by the releases cumulatively aggregating 2,07,000 cusecs as against 1,89,000 cusecs (as ordered), the excess being of the order of 18,000 cusecs,” it said.

The affidavit relied upon the releases of Biligundlu as certified by the Central Water Commission.

It further said that Karnataka had ensured excess release of 13,999 cusecs at Biligundlu between September 12 and 19 at the rate of 10,000 cusecs per day as per the direction of the apex court on September 10, which would take the total excess release to 31,999 cusecs.

Mandya farmers plea dismissed

The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a PIL and questioned the locus standi of farmers from Mandya who sought a declaration that the Cauvery River Authority order directing Karnataka to release 9,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu was illegal, arbitrary and without any basis, DHNS reports from Delhi.

A bench of justices D K Jain and Madan B Lokur asked senior counsel Ravivarma Kumar, appearing for the farmers, to explain how fundamental rights of the petitioners were affected in the original suit with regard to sharing of Cauvery water. “What is your locus standi in matter concering Article 131 of the Constitution? We would like to be enlightened as to what is the basis to file a writ petition,” the bench said.