[CA] Cauvery River Row: How arguments made by TN, Karnataka and Centre in SC?

[On April 09, 2018 Supreme Court directed the Centre to frame the draft Cauvery scheme by May 03, 2018 and prove its bona fide resolve to end the 200 year old dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu]

Centre: We are unable to frame the Cauvery draft water sharing scheme within the May 03 deadline given by the apex court as Prime Minister and Ministers are busy in Karnataka elections. So the apex court must hear the case, a day after the Karnataka elections.

CJI: But you (centre) not supposed to frame the draft scheme…. The scheme should have been finalized by now

Centre: We are in a difficult position… we are only asking for 10 days

CJI (to Karnataka): To take instructions on whether it could release 4 tmcft to Tamil Nadu in May 2018

Tamil Nadu: Though Cauvery tribunal had ordered the release of 2.5 tmcft each for April and May, Karnataka had released only 1..1 tmcft in April

CJI: Even though the States have no role to play in finalizing the scheme, Karnataka should have released the water as per the order of the tribunal to prove its bona fide

Tamil Nadu: Centre is adopting a “brazen attitude” and “playing politics” to favour its party’s fortune in the Karnataka State, instead of fulfilling its duty

CJI: Centre has a “responsibility to frame the scheme”

Tamil Nadu: Centre is worried about their electoral fate in Karnataka. The centre does not want to frame the scheme before May 12. If you [Supreme Court] allow this to happen, there will be nothing left on the rule of law and co-operative federalism

Tamil Nadu: What do we tell the people of Tamil Nadu? That the Supreme Court passed its judgment in Feb 2018 and we have still not been able to get water. Summer temperatures are rising.. there is no drinking water… it is time for you [Supreme Court] to call a spade a spade

Tamil Nadu to Centre: In earlier hearing, you [Centre] said that “everything was ready” with the scheme

Tamil Nadu: The attorney general made the statement in the Supreme Court. Do we not believe him now? Do we not get water? Why this step-motherly treatment to us now? We cannot be at the mercy of the Central Government.

CJI: Water allotment would be less in summer. The tribunal had fixed the quota, which we had only reduced by 4 TMC. The water released has to be proportionate to rainfall, irrigation etc… That is why a scheme is needed

CJI to Tamil Nadu: We assure you that the state would get indeed get water.

CJI to Karnataka: (in stern voice) State must release water

Karnataka: State had already released water in excess to Tamil Nadu

CJI to Karnataka: You have to urgently release water or face the consequences

CJI to centre: You must respond to us on May 08, 2018 about what steps the Centre has taken so fat to frame the scheme

Tamil Nadu: They [the Centre] will dilly-dally.. this is too serious an issue

CJI: Well it is only one or two days before Tuesday… we will see

Case adjourned to May 08, 2018