CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu govt on Tuesday moved the Supreme Court, accusing Karnataka of “deliberately disobeying” the directions of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and failing to release the stipulated 3,000 cusecs despite having sufficient water in its four major reservoirs.The CWMA directed Karnataka on Oct 23 to release 3,000 cusecs after the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee found a shortfall in the state’s releases during the current water year. In its application in the pending Cauvery dispute case, Tamil Nadu said, “Any violation or infraction of the decree including directions of CWMA by state of Karnataka amounts to wilful disobedience of the degree of this court and will amount to contempt of this court. ”Tamil Nadu said the flow recorded at Biligundulu was 1,652 cusecs on Oct 24, 1,853 cusecs on Oct 25 and 1,642 cusecs on Oct 26. The flow rose to 3,002 cusecs on Oct 27. In all, Karnataka had released a total of 8,149 cusecs during the first four days, against the required 12,000 cusecs, resulting in a deficit of 3,851 cusecs. It sought directions to Karnataka to make good the shortfall and continue releasing 3,000 cusecs daily until Nov 6.Tamil Nadu claimed that Karnataka had adequate storage in its four major Cauvery basin reservoirs, with their combined storage standing at 52tmcft as of Oct 27.Rejecting Karnataka’s argument that the water was needed for Bengaluru’s drinking water requirements, Tamil Nadu said the city’s needs could be met with around 14tmcft over the next seven months, at the rate of 2 tmcft a month. It said Karnataka’s Kharif crop season had ended and alleged that the state’s claim that it required 43 tmcft for drinking water and other needs was “exaggerated” and a “ploy” to deny Tamil Nadu its due share, even on a pro-rata basis, during the distress year.Tamil Nadu said the long-duration samba crop in the delta region was sown only in the first week of Sept, instead of the normal sowing period in mid-July, because of inadequate storage in the Mettur reservoir. Despite rationing water and taking all possible measures to optimise its use, the state said farmers remained anxious about saving the crop and securing the yield. It added that although the northeast monsoon had commenced, it was too early to assess whether the rainfall would meet the crop’s water requirements until the season ends in mid-January.The state has sought directions to the CWMA to reconsider its Oct 23 order and ensure that the backlog owed to Tamil Nadu is released at Biligundulu on a pro-rata basis.
