Cauvery verdict: Justice Lalit out, what does Karnataka want?

 

The Supreme Court is currently hearing the Cauvery water sharing issue and will give its verdict on the appeals filed against the order of the court.

 

The three-member bench including Justice Deepak Misra, Justice Amitava Roy, Justice Ajay Manikrao Khanwilkar will hear the Cauvery pleas.

 

Interestingly, Justice Uday Lalit has been excluded from the hearing bench. Karnataka had alleged that Justice Lalith was in favour of Tamil Nadu (especially TN Chief Minister Jayalalithaa), and he should not be included on the bench to ensure fair argument.

 

Why is today’s verdict important?

•    This is the hearing of special plea against the Cauvery Water Tribunal’s verdict of 2007

•    All four states- Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala have filed a plea against the 2007 verdict of the Tribunal

•    According to the Tribunal verdict, Karnataka was awarded 270 TMC, Kerala 30 TMC, Tamil Nadu 419 TMC, Puducherry 7 TMC of water

•    Hearing will also be held on the pleas regarding Interstate River Water Disputes Act filed in 2008

•    The recommendations of the Tribunal include constituting Cauvery Management Board

 

What does Karnataka want?

•    Cancel the order to release water on monthly quota

•    Quantum of water available in Tamil Nadu also should be taken into consideration

•    Direct Tamil Nadu to grow short-term crops which do not need a lot of water

•    Direct Tamil Nadu to use 50% of ground water available there

•    TN grows Samba crop in 24 lakh acres, reduce it to 12 lakh acres

•    Karnataka currently is allowed to grow crops on 18 lakh acres of land, increase it to 24 lakh acres

•    Growing sugarcane is limited to just 40,000 acres in Karnataka, increase it to 90,000 acres