New Delhi:
In a major set back for Tamil Nadu, the Supreme Court on Friday reduced Tamil Nadu's Cauvery water share to 177.25 TMC and gave an additional 14.75 TMC to the Karnataka.
Pronouncing the top court's verdict, a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India ruled that water is "national resource" and no state can claim its exclusive ownership to a river.
The bench while reducing the water share of Tamil Nadu said that 20 TMC of groundwater in Tamil Nadu had not been accounted for and needed to be seen.
The apex court also made it clear that the increase in the share of Cauvery water for Karnataka has been done keeping in view the fact that there is an increased demand of drinking water by Bengaluru.
The Cauvery water has long been the sources of dispute between the two South Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
In 2007, the Cauvery Water Tribunal had allocated 270 TMC to Karnataka, 419 TMC to Tamil Nadu, 30 TMC to Kerala, and 7 TMC to Puducherry and around 14 TMC for environmental purposes.
The Supreme Court's verdict has come on a day when Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is scheduled to present his last annual budget before upcoming state Assembly elections.
Bengaluru: Latest visuals of #Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah at the state Assembly after SC alloted an additional 14.75 TMC ft water to the state. #CauveryVerdict. Budget for Karnataka will also be presented today. pic.twitter.com/fqFwzWvoBs
— ANI (@ANI) February 16, 2018
Reacting to the top Court's verdict, Mohan V Katarki, counsel for the state of Karnataka said, "We are very happy with the verdict. The verdict is a balanced verdict which protects the interest of both the states. This is a good judgment which will go long way in ensuring peace in both the states."
Former Karnataka CM Jagdish Shettar also welcomed the budget. He said, "Will react in detail after reading the judgement but prima facie we welcome it."
Meanwhile, the workers of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike celebrated after the Supreme Court verdict to allocate additional Cauvery water to Karnataka and distributed sweets.
#Karnataka Rakshana Vedike workers celebrate in Hosur after Supreme Court allotted Karnataka an additional 14.75TMC ft share of Cauvery water. #CauveryVerdict pic.twitter.com/WEteTiMqPk
— ANI (@ANI) February 16, 2018
Cauvery, a 765-km long river is called the Ganga of South and originates in Karnataka’s Kodagu district and flows into Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry.
