Cauvery verdict disappointing, TN has more rights as a lower riparian State: Palaniswami

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Friday said the Supreme Court verdict reducing the quantum of water to Tamil Nadu from Cauvery river was "very disappointing."

"The AIADMK government would take all strong efforts expeditiously to consult with legal experts to ensure the rightful share Cauvery water for Tamil Nadu," he said.

"As a lower riparian State, Tamil Nadu has more rights over the Cauvery water," he added.

The Chief Minister also rejects criticism from the DMK and in turn blames the latter saying that it was during the DMK regime in 1974 that the State's rights were lost.

Stating that the issue of drinking water has to be placed on a "higher pedestal", the Supreme Court on Friday increased the share of Cauvery water for Karnataka by 14.75 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) and reduced Tamil Nadu's share while compensating it by allowing extraction of 10 tmc groundwater from the river basin.

With today's ruling, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Union Territory Puducherry would be annually entitled to 404.25 tmc, 284.75 tmc, 30 tmc and 7 tmc of Cauvery water respectively out of a total of 740 tmc. Additionally, 10 tmc of water would be used for environmental protection and 4 tmc would be kept for "inevitable escapages" into the sea.

OneIndia News