Apex court orders Karnataka to release Cauvery water to TN

A day after Karnataka expressed its inability to release Cauvery water, the Supreme Court today asked it to discharge 6,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu till Friday.

The court, however, called for a political solution to the impasse through a meeting of Chief Ministers of the two States and the Centre.

Resolution sought The apex court, which was strongly urged by Tamil Nadu not to hear Karnataka till it complied with the previous orders, asked Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi to facilitate a meeting of the executive heads of both States with the Centre over the next two days to find a resolution to the impasse.

“We think it appropriate that Karnataka releases 6,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu in three days by following the order passed by us, despite the resolution passed by the Assembly,” a Bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and UU Lalit said.

While the order was being dictated by the Bench, senior advocate FS Nariman, appearing for Karnataka, vehemently opposed any direction asking the State to release water, saying there was “no logic in it” and the order amounted to “a direct confrontation”.

Senior advocate Shekhar Naphade, appearing for Tamil Nadu, blamed Karnataka’s “obstructionist and obstinate” attitude for the impasse.