The Tamil Nadu government on Thursday moved the Supreme Court seeking to restrain the neighbouring state of Karnataka from drawing water more than its allocated share form various reservoirs on Cauvery during the coming summer.
“The present application is being filed for urgent directions restraining the state of Karnataka form raking up summer irrigation and consequent depletion of storage in reservoirs in the state, in contravention of the final order of February 5, 2007 of Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal,” the Tamil Nadu’s petition said. Since such a problem arise during every summer, the Tamil Nadu government stated that drawing of water in excess of the allocated share by Karnataka, in fact was in “violation” of its “own stand” before the tribunal when it had passed an interim order in June 1991.
As the tribunal has passed a final award in February 2007, Karnataka government was bound by it and could not go against its commitment despite the matter reaching the apex court in cross appeals filed by both the states.