Supreme Court reduces Tamil Nadu’s share in Cauvery water

Context:

  • The Supreme Court pronounced its verdict on the decades-old Cauvery water sharing dispute between the south Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and the Union territory of Puducherry.
  • The top court ruled that 177.25 TMC of Cauvery water will be released for Tamil Nadu and Karnataka will get an additional 14.75 TMC.
  • The court also said that 20 TMC of ground water in Tamil Nadu had not been accounted for and needed to be seen.

Kaveri River water dispute

  • The sharing of waters of the Kaveri River has been the source of a serious conflict between the two states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
  • Tamil Nadu has been accusing Karnataka of not releasing its due share of water.
  • Whereas, Karnataka has expressed its inability to release the stipulated quantum of water owing to the drought situation in the state.
  • Kerala and Puducherry are the other two states party to the dispute.
  • The dispute was adjudicated by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) in 2007.
  • In 2007, the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) had ordered 419 TMC for Tamil Nadu, 270 TMC for Karnataka, 30 TMC for Kerala & seven TMC for Puducherry.
  • The actual release of water by Karnataka to Tamil Nadu is to be 192 TMC annually. Further, Kerala will get 30 TMC and Puducherry 7 TMC.
  • The tribunal’s order was challenged by Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

About CWC (Central Water Commission)-

  • Central Water Commission (CWC), an apex organization in the country in the field of Water Resources.
  • CWC advise the Government of India in respect of Water Resources Development, regarding rights and disputes between different States which affect any scheme for the conservation and utilization and any matter that may be referred to the Commission.

About Inter-state Water Dispute Act, 1956

  • Inter State Water Dispute Act, 1956, provides legal framework to address such issues, a tribunal can be formed after a state government approaches the Union government with such a request and the Centre is convinced of the need to form the tribunal.
  • There is no time-limit for adjudication by a tribunal.

About Mahadayi River water dispute

  • The river rises in the Western Ghats, in Karnataka’s Belagavi district, and flows in westerly direction, entering Goa in the Sattari taluk of North Goa
  • The dispute started in the 80s and escalated through the early 90s, as Karnataka designed a chain of dams and canals to channel the Mahadayi’s water to the basin of the Malaprabha, tributary of the Krishna.
  • In 2002, Goa sought the setting up of a Tribunal to adjudicate the dispute.
  • In 2006, it moved the Supreme Court to press its demand.
  • After attempts at negotiation failed, the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal was set up on November 16, 2010.

About Ravi-Beas River Water Dispute

  • Ravi- Beas Waters Tribunal was constituted in 1986 for verification of the quantum of usage of water claimed by Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan regarding their shares in remaining waters.

Source:Indian Express

Leave a Reply