K'taka asked to give 4 tmc of water to TN over 15 days

The Cauvery Monitoring Committee on Wednesday directed Karnataka to release four thousand million cubic feet of water to Tamil Nadu over the next fortnight even as it asked the latter to make a written submission before the panel on issues it wants to be addressed.

At a meeting of the Cauvery Monitoring Committee (CMC), Karnataka was asked to release four tmc of water to Tamil Nadu between November 1 and 15.

The four-page order also said that any shortfall -- which will be calculated on Thursday -- should also be provided to Tamil Nadu during the period.

During its October 11 meeting, the CMC had said Tamil Nadu should get 8.85 tmc of water between October 16 and 31. "A shortfall, if any, would be calculated tomorrow as the last award was applicable till today," an official said.

The next meeting will be held here on November 15.

On Supreme Court orders, the CMC headed by Secretary, Water Resources asked Tamil Nadu to make a written submission before the panel by November 2 on issues it wants to be addressed.

When representatives of Tamil Nadu raised the issues, they were asked to make a written submission.

"We hereby direct CMC to examine all issues as may be raised on behalf of the states and make recommendations," a bench of justices D K Jain and J S Khehar had said.

Tamil Nadu's counsel had placed a copy of the October 26 letter addressed by Water Resource Secretary to state's chief secretary expressing reservation on CMC going into question of shortfall of water in its October 31 meeting when the matter was sub-judice before the apex court.

The bench said both the states shall comply with all the recommendations made by the CMC in letter and spirit.

The Monitoring Committee consists of Union Water Resources Secretary as Chairperson, Chief Secretaries and Chief Engineers of the basin states and Chairman, Central Water Commission as members.