On Friday, the Supreme Court approved the Center’s draft for the Cauvery Management Scheme. The top Court ordered the Center to implement the draft and rejected the one submitted by the Karnataka Government.
This comes after the Supreme Court announced its verdict in the Cauvery Water Dispute Case. Chief Justice Dipak Misra announced Tamil Nadu would get 177.25 tmc ft water while Karnataka gets 284.75 tmc ft.
The share of water for Tamil Nadu was reduced from their original 192 tmc ft. The SC explained this was done as Tamil Nadu failed to give accounts for 20 tmc of groundwater. The Apex Court stated Karnataka had the opportunity to expand its irrigation area. Bengaluru will be allocated 4.75 tmc ft more for drinking water.
The Court made no changes to Kerala and Puducherry allocation. A Cauvery Management Board will be constituted to keep a track of the water consumption. This order is applicable for the next 15 years. CJI Misra also said the Cauvery waters were national property and no state can claim ownership.
Explaining their verdict, the SC said it increased Karnataka’s allocation because the State has had an increased demand for drinking water and industrial activities. This is a two decades old case and the two states were eagerly waiting for the verdict.
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