Cauvery: SC turns down Tamil Nadu plea for urgent hearing on Board

Cauvery Management Board described TN's accusations against Karnataka as misconceived.

ASKING the states to act responsibly and not spar over petty issues,the Supreme Court Tuesday refused to grant urgent hearing on Tamil Nadus plea for setting up of the Cauvery Management Board,while describing its accusation against Karnataka of drawing excess water as misconceived and misplaced.

We dont think there is any urgency in the prayer made by Tamil Nadu. Neither is there any urgent situation nor is any emergency. Is it (Karnatakas plans) depriving you of your due (water)? Are these (irrigation) schemes by Karnataka operational? These things are not done overnight, a Bench headed by Justice R M Lodha said.

It observed that the monsoon was good this year and hence there was no scarcity of water for Tamil Nadu. It asked the state not to get apprehensive about the irrigation project being considered by the Karnataka government.

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Whatever they (Karnataka) do in their territory,your anxiety gets triggered. These are irrigation schemes and it takes time. Why are you obsessed with the board. We have made ad-hoc arrangement. If it is not working then we are here to pass appropriate orders, said the court.

The Bench also took into account the Centres submission that it had not granted clearance to any such project by Karnataka government.

Tamil Nadu,in its application,had sought the courts intervention to set up the Cauvery Management Board alleging that Karnataka was planning to construct a hydro-power station at Mekedatu for which three reservoirs were planned across Cauvery river.

Senior advocate F S Nariman,representing Karnataka,submitted that it was the third time Tamil Nadu had made the application for setting up of the Cauvery Management Board. To this,the Bench said,You (Karnataka and Tamil Nadu) are not ordinary neighbour like Ram and Shyam and cannot fight like this. It asked Karnataka and Centre to file response to Tamil Nadus application within four weeks.

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