Cauvery Dispute Verdict: Karnataka’s Gain Is Tamil Nadu’s Loss
Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have been sparring over Cauvery issue for over two decades.
What the Bench Said in 2017
A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud had on 20 September 2017 reserved the verdict on the appeals filed by the three states against the 2007 award of the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal (CWDT) on sharing of water.
The top court had earlier clarified that any other forum could touch the matter relating to the Cauvery river basin only after it gives its verdict.
The apex court had in January said the verdict would be pronounced within a month, adding that the matter has already created enough confusion for decades.
The top court during the course of pendency of appeals of the neighbouring states against the arbitral award of 2007, had passed several orders directing Karnataka to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.
TN Buses to Bengaluru Stopped at Hosur
Karnataka State Road Transportation Corporation (KSRTC) has suspended bus services to Tamil Nadu. Buses headed to TN have been diverted to Attibele.
Bus transportation services between the two states have been halted ahead of the Cauvery verdict.
There is no restriction on movement of goods and private vehicles. Police personnel have been deployed in key points in Tamil Nadu.
How Was the Cauvery Water Allocated in 2007?
The Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) in 2007 attempted to resolve the dispute by determining the total availability of water in the Cauvery basin at 740 thousand million cubic (tmc) – split into yearly allocation of 419 TMC to Tamil Nadu, 270 TMC to Karnataka, 30 TMC to Kerala and 7 TMC to Puducherry.
Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala filed appeals against the CWDT decision in the Supreme Court as none of them was not satisfied with the CWDT’s award.
One of the main bones of contention has been how much water is to be shared during a “distress year”, when the amount of available water is lower. The tribunal only said that the allocation needs to be proportionately reduced in such years. Read about the dispute in detail on The Quint.
Security Tightened in Karnataka
A total of 15,000 police personnel, 70 platoons of Karnataka State Reserve Police and 30 platoons of the City Armed Reserve have been deployed in Bengaluru city as part of the security arrangements for Cauvery verdict.
In Mandya district, where violent protests broke out during the previous hearings on the decades-long dispute, 25 KSRP battalions, 20 district armed reserve police platoons and 50 striking forces have been deployed. The security will be monitored by one SP and eight DSP level officers.
TN to Receive 177.25 TMC As K'taka Gains
The Supreme Court has reduced Tamil Nadu's annual share from 192 TMC to 177.5 TMC, enabling Karnataka to retain 14.75 TMC.
The apex court added that 20 TMC of ground water in Tamil Nadu had not been accounted for.
The allocation of 30 TMC to Kerala and 7 TMC to Puducherry, as per the 1997 tribunal order, has been upheld.
Bengaluru Water Scarcity Reason Behind Allocation: SC
The Supreme Court reportedly made it clear that an increase in the share of Cauvery water for Karnataka by 14.75 TMC is an effort to meet the increased demand for drinking water by Bengaluru as well as for industrial activities, ANI reports. Bengaluru has been alloted 4.7 TMC.
TN CM Holds Crucial Meeting
Chennai Police Commissioner AK Vishwanathan met CM Edappadi Palanisamy, minutes after the Cauvery verdict.
"SC Verdict Protects Interests of Both States": K'taka Cousnel
Karnataka state counsel Mohan V Katarki said that they were happy with the verdict, and that it protected the interests of “both states”.
Pro-Kannada Groups Celebrate Verdict
Pro-Kannada activists celebrated the SC verdict by distributing sweets at the Tamil Nadu-Karnataka border.
AIADMK Govt Lost What Kalaignar Fought For: MK Stalin
DMK working president MK Stalin in a statement said that the AIADMK government has lost the “rights that Kalaignar had achieved in Cauvery Water issue for Tamil Nadu”.
Shocked at Reduction in Water Share: Kamal Haasan
Actor-turned politician Kamal Haasan expressed his disappointment at the reduction in allotment but said that people should now focus on water conservation.
Puducherry CM Hails SC Verdict
Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy on Friday hailed the 'historic' Supreme Court verdict on sharing of Cauvery water saying it ensured the Union Territory would continue to receive seven TMC for Karaikal region lying at the tail-end of the river basin.
The verdict ensuring continued availability of seven tmcft of water for Karaikal is in line with the award of the Cauvery River Water Dispute Tribunal in 2007 as the allocation remains unchanged."
Stating that the verdict was historic, the Chief Minister said:
Rajnikanth Calls SC's Cauvery Verdict Disappointing
Actor and politician Rajnikanth called the Supreme Court’s verdict on Cauvery water dispute ‘disappointing’ saying, it will further affect the livelihood of farmers in Tamil Nadu. He urged the AIADMK government to file a review petition.
Some Relief For Karnataka: Siddaramaiah
After the Supreme Court verdict on Cauvery water dispute allowed Karnataka to retain 14.75 TMC of water, state’s Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said , “We have got some relief, so somewhere we are happy with this verdict.”
'Will Do Our Best to Ensure Rights': TN CM E Palaniswami
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palaniswami hit out at the Karnataka government on the Cauvery issue, saying that the neighbouring had constructed several dams across the river without any discussion or consultation with the Centre.
“They even increased the area of farming land in the early years”, he alleged.
Palaswami further said that the state government would take announce its action plan after discussion with the concerned experts.
Although hailing the Supreme Court’s verdict for clarifying that the Cauvery did not belong to anyone the chief minister expressed his disappointment at the reduction in the water allotment.
The Supreme Court, on 16 February, modified the Cauvery river water sharing agreement to reduce Tamil Nadu's annual share from 192 TMC to 177.5 TMC, thereby allowing Karnataka to retain 14.75 TMC. The SC upheld the 2007 CWDT allocation to Kerala and Puducherry (30 TMC and 7 TMC, respectively)
- The DMK blamed the AIADMK government for losing what “Kalaignar had achieved”
- On 20 September, a three-judge bench, headed by CJI Dipak Misra, had reserved its verdict on the decade-long Cauvery dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka
- The Cauvery river originates in Kodagu in Karnataka and flows through districts like Haasan, Mandya, Mysuru as well as districts of Tamil Nadu like Dharmapuri, Erode, Karur, Trichy
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)