Cauvery water row: SC orders Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu

In a setback to Karnataka, the Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the state to release 6000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu for the next three days.

Karnataka government moved the Supreme Court on Monday seeking modification of the Sept. 20 order to release 6000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for a week, saying that it is not in the position to comply with the order till November on the grounds that it doesn't have enough water to supply drinking water to major cities in the state.

However, the SC on Monday asked the state to release 6000 cusecs of water to its neighbouring state for the next three days. It also said that the Attorney General will facilitate the meeting between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to resolve the impasse.

The next hearing on Cauvery water row is on Friday.

A bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra on Sept. 20 had directed Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water per day to Tamil Nadu till Sept. 27, raising the quantum fixed by the Cauvery Supervisory Committee by 3,000 cusecs.

The Karnataka legislature took a unanimous resolution on Friday to defer the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu as its reservoirs were running dry, and it needs supply of drinking water to its cities, including Bengaluru.