UNI

Bangalore, Mar 8: Karnataka on Thursday decided to approach the Supreme Court opposing the award of the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal besides filing its petition before the tribunal.

Announcing this after a cabinet meeting, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister M P Prakash said that the state would file a special leave petition besides an original suit (OS) in the Apex court. While the OS would be under Art.131 of the constitution, the SLP would be under Art.136.

Besides, the state government would also file a petition before the Tribunal under section 5(3) of the Inter State Water Disputes Act, he added.

Replying to questions he said the government's decision followed the advise of Advocate General Uday Holla and a battery of advocates who had represented the State before the tribunal. A number of issues including the utilisation of ground water resources, wastage of water and water reserved for environmental aspects need to be further clarified and hence the government's decision, he clarified.

The Tribunal, in its order dated February 5, had allocated 419 tmcft water to Tamil Nadu, 270 tmcft to Karnataka, 30 tmcft to Kerala.