more-in Tamil Nadu received less than its share of Cauvery water during the crucial four months — June to September — in 18 out of 27 years, since the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) gave its interim order in June 1991. As the period accounts for around two-thirds of the State’s annual share, the shortfall in realisation during those four months, which coincide with southwest monsoon, generally paved the way for deficit in the overall receipt of Cauvery water. This could be seen from the fact that the State’s annual realisation was less in 12 out of those 18 years. Overwhelming support This is why there is an overwhelming support among farmers and political parties for an implementation mechanism on the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal’s final order, which now stands modified by the Supreme Court marginally with regard to allocations for Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Invariably, Tamil Nadu did not get its share of Cauvery water when its farmers wanted it most and Karnataka did not adhere to the schedule of monthly releases, as drawn up by the tribunal. On several occasions, the Mettur dam, the first storage point of the Cauvery in Tamil Nadu, recorded copious inflows when the delta was being lashed by heavy rainfall. Only the presence of an implementation mechanism, for instance, the Cauvery Management Board, will ensure timely release of water for the State, according to the farmers and water experts. On the significance of southwest monsoon, agriculturists and experts explain that it is during this period the short-term ‘kuruvai’ crop is raised and the early phase of the long-term samba crop is taken up. For both, water is required substantially. Besides, Karnataka receives most of its annual rainfall during the monsoon, whereas Tamil Nadu does not get much then and it has to wait till the advent of northeast monsoon in mid-October. P.R. Pandian, a leader of farmers, argues that only with southwest monsoon’s rainfall, agriculturists can do farming operations intensely and the northeast monsoon is only of "complementary and supplementary value." SC verdict Supreme Court on Friday reduced the allocation of Cauvery water from Karnataka to Tamil Nadu. The apex court directed the Karnataka government to release 177.25 tmc ft of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu from its inter-state Biligundlu dam. The judgment clarified that Karnataka will now have an enhanced share of 14.75 tmc ft water per year while Tamil Nadu will get 404.25 tmc ft, which will be 14.75 tmc ft less than what was allotted by the tribunal in 2007. Earlier, in accordance with the 2007 award of the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal, Karnataka had a share of 270 tmc ft of Cauvery water. This will now increase to 284.75 tmc ft.

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