NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to entertain a plea filed by Tamil Nadu government against Karnataka over construction of a reservoir across the Cauvery River and called it “premature.” During the hearing, bench comprising Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, Justices K Vinod Chandran and Justice NV Anjaria asserted that the plan to construct Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir across the river will be approved only after taking cognisance of the objections of the state and opinions of experts, Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) and the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA).”At this stage, what is being done by the order passed by the CWC is only permitting the preparation of the DPR, that too after taking into consideration the objections of the State of Tamil Nadu, the experts of the CWMA and CWRC,” it said. “It is further to be noted that the CWC had further directed that the prior approval of the CWMA and CWRC would be a prerequisite for the consideration of the DPR. In that view of the matter, we find the present application is at a premature stage,” the bench added.Taking note of the three-judge bench’s refusal to go into the issue in August 2023, it asked the CWMA to assess the situation saying that the court does not possess the expertise. “We reiterate what was observed in our order dated August 25, 2023, that we don’t possess expertise. This court time and again reiterated that this court should refrain from areas which are best reserved for experts,” the bench said.SC noted that Karnataka is bound to release the water in pursuance of the directions of the court and added, “If Karnataka fails to comply with the directions of this court, it faces the risk of committing contempt of the court.”
