Cauvery verdict: SC cuts Tamil Nadu’s share, Karnataka to get additional 14.75 tmc of river water

The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Karnataka government to release 177.25 tmcft of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu from its inter-state Biligundlu dam.

The judgement clarified that Karnataka will now have an enhanced share of 14.75 tmcft water per year while Tamil Nadu will get 404.25 tmcft, which will be 14.75 tmcft less than what was allotted by the tribunal in 2007.

Earlier, in accordance with the 2007 award of the Cauvery water dispute tribunal, Karnataka had a share of 270 tmcft of Cauvery water. This will now increase to 284.75 tmcft. (LIVE UPDATES)

The top court also said the allocation for Kerala and Puducherry will remain unchanged.

The apex court also allowed Tami Nadu to draw an additional 10 tmcft ‘groundwater’ from a total of 20 tmcft beneath the Cauvery basin.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud had on September 20 last year reserved the verdict on the appeals filed by Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala against the 2007 award of the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal (CWDT) on sharing of water.

The decades-old Cauvery water dispute was decided unanimously by CWDT in 2007, after determining the total availability of water in the Cauvery basin at 740 thousand million cubic (tmc) feet at the Lower Coleroon Anicut site, including 14 tmcft for environmental protection.

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 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.

The 802-kilometre long river originates in Talacauvery in Kodagu district of Karnataka, and flows mainly through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, and its basin covers parts of Kerala.

According to legal language, Karnataka is the upper riparian state and Tamil Nadu is a lower riparian state. Cauvery water was originally divided according to British-era agreements, but over the years the two states have fought with each other over water to be used for irrigation and asked for a judicial review.

(With inputs from agencies)

Read| SC gives decision in Cauvery water dispute: What you should know about the issue