New Delhi/Bengaluru: The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the centre to intervene in the Cauvery river water dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu after the states reached an impasse in courts.

Despite Karnataka’s protests, a bench comprising justices Dipak Misra and U.U. Lalit ordered the state to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water per day to Tamil Nadu from 28-30 September.

Tuesday’s direction did not go down well in Karnataka which has been at the receiving end of four unfavourable decisions. The court’s decision came after Karnataka sought its nod to defer releasing water to Tamil Nadu for irrigation till November saying its assembly had passed a resolution directing that water from the four reservoirs in the Cauvery river basin should be used only to meet drinking water needs.

But the bench said, “In the interest of federal cooperation where all constitutional bodies have a role to play, Karnataka should follow our order despite the resolution passed by the state assembly."

Attorney general Mukul Rohatgi told the court a meeting will be facilitated between the states and the centre on Wednesday. “This is not an ordinary litigation between a tenant and landlord. The dignity of the court has to be protected," the court said.

On 20 September, the court had ordered Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of water a day to Tamil Nadu from 21 to 27 September which the state has not complied with.

“We are tired of this litigation. Karnataka is an obstructionist, obstinate state which is simply refusing to comply with the court’s orders," said Shekhar Naphade, senior counsel representing Tamil Nadu.

Congress leader Digvijay Singh said in Bengaluru the Karnataka assembly represents “the will of the people."

State BJP president and former chief minister B.S.Yeddyurappa, said that the party will stand by any decision taken by the state government.

However, the BJP continues to differ with the Congress and JD(S) over calls for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in the matter.

“At no point in time the apex court mentioned the intervention of the PM. This devious attempt and motivated campaign of the Congress leaders to draw PM at each and every juncture is deplorable," he said.

On 12 September, the court asked Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs of water per day for 7 days, revising its earlier order of 5 September to release 15,000 cusecs per day till 16 September. Both orders were complied with.

The court also asked the centre on 20 September to set up a Cauvery Management Board (CMB), an expert dispute resolution body, within four weeks.

The Congress national leadership put its support behind Siddaramaiah.

“With all due respect to the SC, the Karnataka assembly represents the will of the people, the unanimous resolution of the assembly supported by all political parties reflects the sentiment of the people of Karnataka," Digvijay Singh, All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary and the party’s Karnataka in-charge said in Bengaluru.

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