TN Moves SC Against Karnataka Over Cauvery Water Non-Release
UPSC / SSC current affairs note · Polity
Why in news
Tamil Nadu has filed a case in the Supreme Court against Karnataka for not releasing its share of Cauvery water. This follows Karnataka's failure to comply with directives from the Cauvery Water Management Authority and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee.
Background
The Cauvery water dispute is a long-standing inter-state river water dispute between Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, and Puducherry. The Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal was established in 1990, and its final award was published in 2013. The Supreme Court modified the award in 2018, and the Cauvery Water Management Authority was constituted in 2018 to implement the award.
Key facts
Tamil Nadu has moved the Supreme Court against Karnataka for not releasing Cauvery water.
The move follows Karnataka's non-compliance with directives from the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC).
The Cauvery Water Management Authority was constituted under the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal's final award, as modified by the Supreme Court in 2018.
The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee is a body under the CWMA that oversees the regulation of water releases.
The dispute involves the sharing of water from the Cauvery river among Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, and Puducherry.
The Supreme Court's 2018 judgment increased Karnataka's share of water and reduced the allocation to Tamil Nadu.
Karnataka's failure to release water has led to legal action by Tamil Nadu in the Supreme Court.
Prelims pointers
- Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) - established in 1990 under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956.
- Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) - constituted in 2018 under the CWDT award as modified by the Supreme Court.
- Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) - a committee under CWMA.
- Article 262 of the Constitution - provides for adjudication of inter-state water disputes.
- Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 - the law under which tribunals are established.
- The Supreme Court's 2018 judgment in the Cauvery dispute.
- States involved: Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, and Union Territory of Puducherry.
Mains angles
- Discuss the constitutional and legal framework for resolving inter-state water disputes in India, with reference to the Cauvery dispute.
- Examine the role of statutory bodies like CWMA and CWRC in implementing judicial awards and their effectiveness in ensuring compliance.
- Analyze the federal tensions arising from inter-state river water disputes and the need for cooperative federalism.