New Delhi, Feb 16 (DHNS): The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal's decision of 2007 for distribution of river water but reduced the quantum of water to be released by Karnataka for Tamil Nadu from from 192 to 177 TMCft.
A three judge presided over by Chief Justice Dipak Misra passed the judgement in the protracted dispute involving Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry.
"We are of the view that the final decision of the tribunal cannot be declared as illegal or fallacious," the bench also comprising Justices Amitava Roy and A M Khanwilkar said.
The court rejected Karnataka's contentions that pre-Constitution agreements between the Maharaja of Mysore and Madras Presidency entered into in 1892 and 1924 cannot be relied upon.
The court termed Karnataka's plea "unconscionable".
"We are of the opinion that the tribunal was correct in its approach. No single state can claim exclusive right over the use of natural resources like water," the bench said.
The court, however, allowed Karnataka's plea for taking into consideration the drinking water needs for Bengaluru.
It allowed the state to use 4.57 TMCft for Bengaluru, saying drinking water to be kept on high pedestal.
The court rejected Karnataka's contention that the tribunal did not take into account availability of 20 TMCft ground water in Tamil Nadu. It, however, agreed to consider 10 TMCft of groun water.
The court said no state shall show any deviancy in implementing the decision, which shall be taken care by the central government as mandated under Section 6A of the Inter States Water Disputes to of 1956.
The apex court has held 28 days of marathon hearing in the dispute dating back to 1802.
The judgement on the Cauvery water dispute is the first-of-its-kind under the Inter-State Water Disputes Act of 1956.
Earlier Report
Security upped in state ahead of Friday's SC verdict on Cauvery row
Bengaluru, Feb 16 (DHNS): The Karnataka state police have made heightened the security arrangements in many parts of the state as the Supreme Court is scheduled to pronounce the final orders on Cauvery river water sharing dispute, on Friday.
Senior police officials have been deployed at sensitive places in the state to maintain public order.
Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy told DH that preventive measures will be taken in view of the judgement. "I spoke to senior officials the moment it was known that the verdict will be out on Friday morning. Our police are all set to avert any possible law and order troubles. Besides, our police department has the previous experience and they know exactly the places they need to concentrate on,'' he said.
Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Kamal Pant said that additional forces have already been deployed at sensitive places. "After the last hearing in the Supreme Court, we knew that the final order would come soon. Police officials in vulnerable districts were asked to hold meetings with farmer leaders. We have been requesting them to maintain peace and order, stating it is completion of a legal process which has to be respected,'' he said.
Pant said that besides persuading farmers to respect the Supreme Court order, adequate security arrangements has been put in place. "Our priority will be providing additional security cover to reservoirs, mainly the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) and the Kabini in Mandya and Mysuru districts respectively. The other priority is deployment of forces on Bengaluru-Mysuru highway and certain sensitive areas in Mandya, Mysuru and other places,'' Pant said.
A senior police official from the Bengaluru Police Commissionerate said that platoons from Karnataka State Reserve Police and Rapid Action Force have been pooled in to provide security in the city.
"There will be additional deployment of security at sensitive places across the city. The security cover will be in place from Friday morning,'' an official said.