Pointing to Indus Water Treaty, Karnataka signals intent to revisit Cauvery water allocation
The State’s response refers to international practices to revisit inter-State water allocations by agreement or adjudication in the changed circumstances, known as rebus sic stantibus
Karnataka has indicated its intention to challenge the longstanding judicial agreement on the Cauvery water-sharing dispute before the Supreme Court, citing "inequitable allocation" and "changed circumstances" as grounds for reconsideration. This follows similar moves by the Union of India, who have also sought changes to the Indus Treaty of 1960, arguing from a position of "changed circumstances".
The Karnataka response, filed by advocate Nishanth Patil and signed off by senior advocate Mohan Katarki, is replying to Tamil Nadu's petition in the Supreme Court regarding the backlog of Cauvery water allocation. The reply, over 40 pages long, raises several issues, including the lack of a scientific formula for sharing distress, the absence of a monthly component in the annual yield of 740 tmc ft, and the fact that the Cauvery basin has two rainfall seasons, each benefiting different regions.
Karnataka argues that the water allocations must be revisited in the context of changed circumstances, such as climate change, environmental degradation, and shifting monsoons. The State asserts that the current water-sharing arrangement, based on historical precedent and the 2018 Supreme Court judgment, does not adequately address the pressing needs of drinking water and dry irrigation in drought-prone areas.
The response also highlights the disproportionate allocation of water to Tamil Nadu, who received 404.25 tmc ft, compared to Karnataka's 284.75 tmc ft.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
