New Delhi, Sep 26 (PTI): Karnataka today moved Supreme Court seeking modification of its order to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water per day to Tamil Nadu saying its reservoirs did not have sufficient water, even as the two states indulged in a fresh legal tug of war, pressing their conflicting grievances.

While Karnataka sought modification of September 20 order of the apex court, Tamil Nadu alleged that its neighbhour should not be heard till it complied with directives of the Supreme Court and the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT).

Earlier in the day, Karnataka said it was not in a position to release water to Tamil Nadu on various grounds including that its reservoirs did not have sufficient water and hence the order needed to be modified.

Tamil Nadu, being agrrieved by the non-compliance of apex court order, said "the state of Karnataka is acting as judge in its own cause and refusing to comply with the orders passed by this court by consciously failing to ensure the release inspite of the matter being sub-judice before this court".

"The present is a case where the instrumentalities of the state in utter defiance to the constitutional mandate have failed to honour and obey the order passed by this court.

"It is reiterated that the State of Karnataka and its instrumentalities are bound to obey the order and the failure to do the same, amounts to recurring contempt of this court's order dated September 20 and the earlier orders," the Tamil Nadu plea said.

The pleas of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are likely to come up for hearing tomorrow. On September 20, the apex court had directed Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water per day to Tamil Nadu till September 27, doubling the quantum fixed by the Supervisory Committee.

The apex court had on September 20 also directed the Centre to constitute within four weeks the Cauvery Water Management Board (CWMB) as directed by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) in its award.

On September 12, the apex court had asked both states to ensure that law and order prevails. It had modified its earlier order on sharing of Cauvery water and directed Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs instead of 15,000 cusecs per day till September 20 to Tamil Nadu.