Cauvery water war: Tamil Nadu gears up for Supreme Court battle
Chennai: A meeting of legislative party leaders in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Tuesday decided to approach the Supreme Court if necessary to get Cauvery water for the state from Karnataka.
CM Stalin, addressing the gathering, expressed grave concern over Karnataka's refusal to abide by CWRA recommendations despite adequate rainfall this year. "Last year, due to Karnataka's non-compliance, we were compelled to approach the Supreme Court to secure our rightful share of Cauvery water," Stalin remarked, underscoring the critical nature of water access for Tamil Nadu's agricultural needs.
The All Party meeting articulated strong resolutions, including the immediate issuance of CWRA orders to Karnataka for releasing the stipulated Cauvery water. "If Karnataka fails to comply, we are prepared to approach the Supreme Court once again to ensure justice for Tamil Nadu," Stalin affirmed, highlighting the state's determination to safeguard its water rights.
A resolution adopted at the meet strongly condemned the Karnataka government for refusing to release water as per the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee's directive of one TMC ft every day. Another resolution urged the Cauvery Water Management Authority to direct Karnataka to release water in compliance with the orders of the Cauvery Tribunal and the Supreme Court.
The escalating tensions have been fueled by Karnataka's recent decision to restrict Cauvery water releases, citing local water scarcity concerns. This move has exacerbated longstanding grievances between the two states over equitable water distribution, with Tamil Nadu's agricultural sector particularly affected.
Earlier in the day, Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister, DK Shivakumar expressed openness to dialogue but emphasised Karnataka's obligations to manage its water resources effectively. "We will cooperate in whatever way we can," Shivakumar assured, signaling readiness to engage constructively despite the ongoing disagreements over water sharing.
The Cauvery water dispute, a perennial flashpoint between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, remains a pressing concern despite intermittent efforts at resolution. The remarks come in the backdrop of Tamil Nadu's condemnation of Karnataka's decision to restrict Cauvery water releases.
The Karnataka government's recent decision to release 8,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu, amidst broader concerns over water scarcity in several districts including Bengaluru, has further intensified the debate over equitable water distribution.