Will the vexed Cauvery river dispute reach its logical end today?

Supreme Court begins hearing of pleas challenging the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal The State had challenged the Tribunal's allocation of Cauvery water Legal luminary Fali S Nariman is arguing for the state

As the Supreme Court begins hearing the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal's 2007 order, the State government hopes the vexed issue reaches its logical end.

The Tribunal was set up in 1991 and it heard the arguments from states for 16 years. In February 5, 2007, the Tribunal had ordered the allocation of  Cauvery water to the four riparian states of Cauvery basin. Accordingly, it allocated 419 tmc ft of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, 270 tmc ft to Karnataka, 30 tmc ft to Kerala and 7 tmc ft of to Puducherry. Feeling cheated, the Karnataka government approached the Supreme Court to challenging the Tribunal's order, reports Kannada Prabha.

Although, the Tamil Nadu had received a greater share than Karnataka - by the Tribunal - it too approached the Apex Court, after Karnataka expressed its objection on the order.

Meanwhile, the Central government had intervened and challenged that the Supreme Court had no jurisdiction to hear the appeals against the award claiming it was a final decree. But the states had contended that the Supreme Court indeed had the power to adjudicate their petitions challenging the final award. Following this, the Supreme Court had fixed July 11 for the final hearing.

Senior advocate Fali S Nariman is representing the State's cause. Among its concerns, drinking water to Bengaluru is a priority. It may be recalled here that the state had approached the Tribunal seeking additional allocation of water from Cauvery basin to Bengaluru City to meet the increasing drinking water needs. But the Tribunal had turned it down. However, the State still wants to push its plea forward. Besides, the state government has strongly opposed the formation of Cauvery Water Management Board in its plea. The State also appeals for water sharing based on rain and availability of water. All eyes are on the Apex Court that will hear the pleas of riparian states from July 11.