Supreme Court will decide on Cauvery river water sharing between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
The Supreme Court will today hear an urgent plea by the Tamil Nadu government seeking directions to Karnataka government for release of additional Cauvery river water from its reservoirs.
Tamil Nadu has sought an interim direction to Karnataka for release of at least 25 thousand million cubic feet of water to enable sowing of Sambal crop.
A bench of Chief Justice TS Thakur and Justices AM Kanwilkar and DY Chandrachud will hear the case today, after senior counsel Shekar Naphade, arguing for Tamil Nadu, urged the top court for an urgent hearing.
Tamil Nadu has accused Karnataka of releasing less than its mandated share of water and thus jeopardizing the livelihood of lakhs of farmers in Tamil Nadu.
Earlier, expressing his inability to release more water, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had said that his state was facing a water crisis due to insufficient rainfall.
Mr Siddaramaiah also suggested that both states should share Cauvery river water as per the distress rate fixed by the Cauvery River Water Tribunal, and not the normal rate this year.
Nearly 40 lakh farmers in the Cauvery river basin region of Tamil Nadu would be affected if Karnataka doesn't release more water soon.