The Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that it does not trust the Centre when it comes to Cauvery issue as they took six years to publish Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) award in the gazette and have not even formed the management board, reported The New Indian Express.
The government stated that Karnataka is altering the CWDT award, 2007, by using the Cauvery water on its own and criticised the Centre for not implementing the tribunal’s order.
The bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice Amitava Roy and Justice AM Khanwilker, was hearing the case on Tuesday when senior advocate Shekhar Naphade appearing for Tamil Nadu said that the use of Cauvery water for purposes other than for which it is allocated, would bring fundamental changes in the basis of the tribunal award.
He said that in such a situation, there should be a review of the award and if Karnataka decided to change use of water, Tamil Nadu is entitled to raise a dispute. He also added, “We have virtually become a beggar before Karnataka.”
The government also urged the Supreme Court to set up Cauvery Management Board to supervise distribution of river water and not leave the responsibility to the Centre, reported Deccan Herald.
However, Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar who appeared for the Centre stated that the Centre did not implement the 2007 Cauvery award because the matter was pending before the Supreme Court and said that it would comply with the orders of the court, reported TNIE.
The court said that it would give the Centre time to comply with its order after its pronouncement.
Stating their concern, the court said that no vacuum should be created and things should work well.
It also questioned the Solicitor General for not implementing the final award of the Cauvery Tribunal.