SC increases Karnataka’s share of Cauvery water; reduces TN’s share

The Supreme Court on Friday reduced Tamil Nadu's share of Cauvery water and increased Karnataka's share.

The apex said that given the global status of Karnataka's capital city of Bengaluru, it will get more Cauvery river water. Karnataka will get an enhanced 14.75 tmc ft of Cauvery water, which will be above 2007 tribunal award of 270 tmc ft. Tamil Nadu will now get 404.25 tmcft of Cauvery water instead of 419 tmcft allotted by the tribunal. The SC said that the 2007 tribunal’s award of 30 tmc ft to Kerala and 7 tmc ft to Puducherry will remain unchanged. The Supreme Court says its order on Cauvery water allocation will continue for the next 15 years.

SC also allowed Tamil Nadu to draw additional 10 tmc ft 'groundwater' from total of 20 tmc ft beneath the Cauvery basin and directed Karnataka to release 177.25 tmc ft of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu from its inter-state Biligundlu dam.

The court said the increase in Karnataka’s share of Cauvery water is on account of groundwater and drinking water requirement for Bengaluru residents, pointing to the global status of Karnataka's capital city of Bengaluru.

Reacting after the decision, Mohan V Katarki, counsel for the state of Karnataka said “We are very happy with the verdict. The verdict is a balance verdict which protects interest of both the states. This is a good judgement which will go long way in ensuring peace in both the states.”

The TN government’s lawyer A Navaneethakrishnan told the media “We hope that TN govt will take appropriate steps” after Tamil Nadu’s share has been reduced, adding that the court order is respected but “Surely, this is not enough.”

Ahead of the verdict on Friday, TN govt buses plying to Karnataka were halted and security was tightened in Chennai and TN towns on the Karnataka border, reported the Indian Express.