Kerala demands 100 tmc Cauvery water, 3 times more than allocated

Kerala demands 100 tmc Cauvery water, 3 times more than allocated Karnataka and Tamil Nadu regions in the Cauvery basin have underground water whereas Kerala does not have. Whatever irrigation project mooted by Kerala is objected to by Tamil Nadu. Centre to give opinion on Cauvery Water Board formation only after all three states complete their arguments.

Kerala has started its argument before Supreme Court regarding Cauvery water distribution and has claimed 99.8 tmc which is 3 times more than what the Cauvery Water Distribution Tribunal allocated to it, reported Kannada Prabha.

Kerala started its argument before the special bench at Supreme Court, on Thursday, in connection with the applications filed by Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu questioning the award sanctioned by the CWDT.  CWDT had awarded 30 tmc water to Kerala.

Now, it is demanding 3 times more. Arguing for Kerala senior advocate Pradeep Gupta said both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu coming under the Cauvery basin have underground water whereas Kerala does not have. Hence 99.8 tmc Cauvery water must be awarded to Kerala he argued. Kerala does not have any dams to store water. Whatever irrigation project mooted by Kerala is objected to by Tamil Nadu. Hence it is impossible for Kerala to take up any irrigation projects, he said.

The Supreme Court had instructed the Central Government to inform the SC regarding establishing a Cauvery Water Board by Thursday. However, Solicitor General Ranjeeth Kumar, who appeared representing the Central Government, said he would submit his opinion only after all three states in the Cauvery valley complete their arguments.