Today, in the suit filed by the Tamil Nadu Government seeking the constitution of a river water tribunal to resolve the interstate water dispute related to the Penniyar and Markandeya nadhi projects undertaken by the Karnataka Government, the Hon’ble Supreme Court directed the central government to constitute a tribunal to resolve the dispute and refer the complaint filed by the state of Tamil Nadu as per section 5 of 1956 act. For the TN Government V. Krishnamoorthy, and P. Wilson Senior Advocates

Today, in the suit filed by the Tamil Nadu Government seeking the constitution of a river water tribunal to resolve the interstate water dispute related to the Penniyar and Markandeya nadhi projects undertaken by the Karnataka Government, the Hon’ble Supreme Court directed the central government to constitute a tribunal to resolve the dispute and refer the complaint filed by the state of Tamil Nadu as per section 5 of 1956 act.

The Tamil Nadu Government approached the Supreme Court to:

A) direct the Central Government to establish a tribunal under Section 3 of the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 (Central Act 33 of 1956), and to refer the complaint made by letter dated 30.11.2019 on 02.12.2019 by the Tamil Nadu Government to the said tribunal;

B) instruct the State of Karnataka to maintain the status quo as of now regarding the construction of a dam across Markandeyanadhi near Yargol Village, pending the constitution of the tribunal by the Central Government under Section 4 of the Act;

C) direct Karnataka to uphold the current status quo concerning pumping water from Varathur Tank to Narsapur Tank in Kolar district, from Yellamallappa Chetty tank to Hoskote tank, and pumping water directly from the Penniyar River at Belahalli and Thattanur villages, until the tribunal is established;

D) prohibit the State of Karnataka from initiating any new schemes in the Penniyar basin until a tribunal is constituted by the Central Government. When Karnataka attempted to commence work, the Tamil Nadu Government argued that various projects undertaken by Karnataka in the Penniyar River and the Markandeyanadhi could affect Tamil Nadu’s downstream interests and its inhabitants.

As negotiations between the two states failed, the Supreme Court issued this order in the suit filed by the TN government.
For the TN Government V. Krishnamoorthy, and P. Wilson Senior Advocates