NEW DELHI(PTI): Kamataka Jan.21 asked the Cauvery water disputes tribunal to lay down principles that would ensure equitable distribution of the Cauvery river waters and sec if any State was taking more than ‘its share, even as it accused Tamil Nadu of being “guilty of Over appropriating its share of water.”

Karnataka counsel, Fali S.Nariman, said in the second and final day of hearing at the parental stage here, that the tribunal must first determine the share of the slates, namely Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Pondicherry, I abstract manner, check how much water was being appropriated by each State and then see if the appropriation matched the share.

Kamiataka contended that the Share of waters from the Cauvery and its tributaries must be determined on the basis of the contribution of each state lo the basin, population in the basin and the cultivable area.

It also sought from the tribunal, a fact finding committee of experts who would investigate the claims by contending states and the data of the Cauvery basin.

Karnataka said Tamil Nadu was Overdrawing water because while it contributed 222 TMC (Thousand Million cubic feet) of water to the Cauvery, it appropriated 561 TMC of water.

 

Article extracted from this publication >>  January 29, 1993