NEW DELHI, CHENNAI : The Supreme Court on Monday appointed Justice A M Sapre as the chief of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, a post that had been lying vacant for the past several years.
Chief Justice of India J S Khehar announced the new assignment of Sapre, a sitting judge of the Supreme Court. He was a judge at the Madhya Pradesh High Court, before he was elevated.
The Cauvery water sharing dispute had been going on between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu for decades. While the Tamil Nadu government has been claiming its share of water from the Cauvery, Karnataka has argued it does not have any to share because of drought.
The appointment of Sapre assumes significance since the Supreme Court is set to hear the Cauvery case on a regular basis from March 21.
The court on the last date of hearing directed Karnataka to release 2,000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu till further orders, but Karnataka has not released any.
Both states had challenged the award of the Cauvery Waters Tribunal delivered in 2007.
The tribunal in its final award had determined the usable quantum of water of the Cauvery at 740 tmcft. Karnataka is entitled to 270 tmcft, Tamil Nadu to 419 tmcft, Kerala 30 tmcft and Puducherry 7 tmcft, while 14 tmcft is meant for environmental purposes, the Cauvery tribunal had said.
Tamil Nadu Farmers Association welcomed the appointment of the tribunal chairman. “This appointment amid severe drought and water crisis in Tamil Nadu comes as a solace to farmers,” said association’s general secretary V Duraimanickam in a statement.
With water levels in Mettur Dam dipping down to a paltry 8.55 TMC, the farmers association expressed optimism that the newly appointed chairman would act swiftly without further delay.
Justice Chauhan, who retired from the Supreme Court in July 2014, has since been heading the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal as its chairperson. The new appointment is a welcome step, he said.