Umamageshwari Maruthapan
The Karnataka State Government has decided to approach the Supreme Court challenging Tamilnadu’s new scheme concerning the utilization of water from the Cauvery River.
A meeting was attended by prominent Karnataka State officials including Home, Law, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Basavaraj Bommai. Minister for Major and Medium Irrigation Ramesh Jarkiholi had chaired the meeting.
While addressing the press post the discussions, Bommai affirmed above the State’s decision to approach the Top Court. He contended that Tamilnadu had passed a scheme through which it enabled itself to utilize surplus water from the River. However, the Cauvery Tribunal had not allocated the surplus water to any of the State.
“When such is the case, it is not right on their part to devise a scheme to utilize the excess water,” the Minister argued.
Karnataka Chief Minister Y S. Yediyurappa had expressed his displeasure on 22nd February 2021. Even the opposition parties in Karnataka had condemned the move of Tamilnadu.
The State of Tamil Nadu, on 21st February 2021, laid the foundation of the Cauvery-Vaigai-Gundar (262-km) river interlinking project worth Rs. 14,400 crores. Through this project, the state government proposes to utilize about 42 tmc feet of water to supply its southern districts.
The said 42 TMC feet of water is beyond the allocation granted to the State under the Cauvery Tribunal Award.