BackCauvery dispute: Fali S. Nariman will continue to represent Karnataka, says minister
Karnataka is now pinning its hopes on the special leave petition (SLP) passed by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal which will come up for hearing on 18 October
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Bengaluru: September was one of the most difficult months for Karnataka and its government’s fight for Cauvery water, with at least five unfavourable court orders against the state in the century-old crisis.
Along with that, Karnataka’s fight for drinking water continues and is expected to get more difficult. Karnataka is facing one of its worst dry spells in recent memory, which are expected to continue, even as more regions have been declared drought-hit.
The state is now pinning its hopes on the special leave petition (SLP) passed by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal which will come up for hearing on 18 October.
The four dams—Krishna Raja Sagara, Harangi, Kabini and Hemavathy—of the Cauvery basin had 34.13 tmcft of water as on Monday. Of this, 23.30 tmcft will be required only for drinking water purposes. With around 30 tmcft of water inflow till December this year, difficult times are ahead for the state.
Speaking to Mint, Karnataka law and parliamentary affairs minister T.B. Jayachandra explained how the state plans to deal with upcoming challenges, including getting senior counsel Fali S.Nariman to continue representing the state in the matter. Last week, Nariman had said that he cannot defend the stand of the government that has decided to not implement the court order as he has a duty as an officer of the court as well.
How will Karnataka take the Cauvery issue forward?
The main matter is coming up on 18 October and we have to prepare ourselves (Karnataka has challenged the final verdict of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and the petition, filed in February 2007, is coming up for hearing on 18 October). We will show how much groundwater we have and how much Tamil Nadu has and present all drought-related statistics before the Supreme Court. This is the second successive drought year and this time its worse than last year.
Is the 3 October order, in which the Supreme Court directed Karnataka to release 2,000 cusecs of water from 7-18 October, a setback or relief for the state?
It is a relief to the Karnataka government. Without releasing any water, Biligundlu receives around 1,500 cusecs of water (through seepage). If the gates are opened to release water to our basin, then another 2,000 (approximately) may flow naturally.
Will Fali S. Nariman continue to represent Karnataka?
There is no change in the legal team as Nariman has agreed to represent us. Nariman is required as its a 125-year-old case and he (Nariman) has full exposure to this (Nariman has represented Karnataka for the last 32 years in Cauvery issue). He has agreed to argue the case until it is completed.
How will the state handle drought compensation?
We have asked concerned departments to go in for joint inspection. All departments including agriculture, horticulture, sericulture and other related departments, will assess the situation and we will take a decision. We will require the Centre’s assistance.
The compensation is for crop losses and I don’t think there will be any compensation for farmers who did not go in for cultivation (the government issued an advisory earlier this year asking farmers not to go in for water-intensive crops).
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