Cauvery water row: Supreme Court asks Tamil Nadu to approach CWMA over proportionate share

The Supreme Court on Monday asked Tamil Nadu government to approach the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) with its grievance that Karnataka was not releasing the State’s proportionate share of Cauvery water.

A Bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta was hearing the Tamil Nadu government's plea seeking directions to Karnataka for immediate release of its due share of water.

Appearing for Tamil Nadu, the counsel submitted,

"We have to receive proportionate quantity or water, that is unfortunately not happening."

The Court noted that it had previously observed that Tamil Nadu appeared to have received more water than its allocated share from Karnataka.

Today, it pointed out that the State had already received water in accordance with the CWMA's directions.

“You have already received the water as directed by CWMA,” said the Court.

However, the counsel for Tamil Nadu contended that the CWMA had not directed the release of the proportionate quantity of water that the State was required to receive.

The Court then asked Tamil Nadu to approach the CWMA on the issue.

The matter will be heard again on August 31.

The dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over Cauvery water dates back to two agreements in 1892 and 1924 between the erstwhile Madras Presidency and the Princely State of Mysore.

After several rounds of failed negotiations, the Supreme Court directed the constitution of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, which gave its award in 2007, allowing Tamil Nadu to draw a fixed amount of water every day.

However, the dispute continued after both States filed petitions to review the decision.

In 2016, Tamil Nadu again petitioned the Supreme Court as Karnataka submitted that it had no more water to share from its reservoir. Subsequently, the top court had asked the Central government to constitute a Cauvery Management Board (CMB).

In 2023, the Court declined to entertain an application by the Tamil Nadu government to increase its current share of Cauvery river water from 5,000 to 7,200 cusecs (cubic feet per second) per day.

The two States have another water-sharing dispute pending before the apex court. That case concerns the Pennaiyar river. The Tamil Nadu government has filed an original suit in the matter against the Karnataka government and the Central government.

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