Cauvery water row: Tamil Nadu files contempt plea against Karnataka CM Jagadish Shettar

NEW DELHI: The Tamil Nadu government today moved the Supreme Court seeking launch of contempt of court proceeding against Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar and others for allegedly defying the court's order to supply 9,000 cusecs of water from the Cauvery river to the state.

In its application filed through counsel Umapathi Ganesh, Tamil Nadu contended that Karnataka has deliberately violated the apex court's September 28 directive to supply water to the state and hence has committed wilful contempt of the court.

Tamil Nadu said despite the apex court's order, Karnataka has stopped the water supply, pushing the state to a further distressed situation.

On the last date of hearing, Karnataka counsel Fali S Nariman had told the court that the state will not be able to release any more water.

"It is physically impossible to release water. There is already a surplus of 13,000 cusecs," he had said without elaborating.

The apex court's September 28 order had come after the CRA meeting of September 19 had failed to produce a solution as both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu had rejected the award of 9,000 cusecs of water by the PM-headed panel to save the standing crops in the delta region.

Tamil Nadu had subsequently moved the apex court for a directive to Karnataka.

The CRA, headed by the Prime Minister, comprises chief ministers of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala.