The Supreme Court on Tuesday posted to the first week of February 2012, for final disposal, the petition filed by Karnataka challenging the February 5, 2007 final award passed by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT).
A three-judge Bench of Justices D.K. Jain, A.R. Dave and S.D. Mukhopadayay urged the Chief Justice of India to place the matter “before the appropriate Bench” for final hearings of the matter.
Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are locked in a decades-long dispute on sharing of Cauvery waters. The Tribunal had in 2007 given its final award, allocating 419 tmcft water to Tamil Nadu and 270 tmcft to Karnataka.
In the much-awaited verdict after more than 16 years of hearings, the Tribunal also awarded 30 tmcft of Cauvery river water to Kerala and 7 tmc ft to Puducherry, the other parties to the dispute.
However, after the award, Karnataka filed a suit in the apex court in 2007, alleging the Tribunal gave a raw deal to the State overlooking its requirements and rights.
Tamil Nadu had also filed applications accusing Karnataka of violating the Tribunal's order and going ahead with construction of various projects.
The matter has an emotive appeal in both the riparian States.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had earlier said that her top priority is to ensure that the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal is gazetted.
