 "A view of the Krishnarajasagar Dam in Mysuru on Tuesday. The Supreme Court has given a directive to the Karnataka state to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.")
Fresh trouble erupted in Bengaluru after violent protestors set fire to at least two vehicles, agitated against the Supreme Court (SC) directive to release more water from the river Cauvery.
The protestors targeted Tamil Nadu registered vehicles. Earlier in the day, a spate of attacks on Karnataka registered vehicles were reported in some parts of Tamil Nadu.
Agitators also called the SC directive as a step motherly treatment towards Karnataka. The state has deployed additional security forces and resorted to lathi charge to disperse a mob indulging in violence in the city. Metro services and public bus services were immediately suspended.
On Monday, hearing on an appeal by Karnataka to modify its earlier directive of September 5, the SC reduced the quantum to be released to 12,000 cusecs of Cauvery water per day till September 20.
The earlier directive was to share 15,000 cusecs of water for 10 days or September 15.
News agency Press Trust of India reported that the bench of Justices Dipak Misra and U U Lalit, which sat on a holiday to consider the urgent plea of Karnataka, however, expressed deep anguish over the "tone and tenor" of the fresh plea and said the law and order situation cannot be taken as a ground for non-compliance of the order of the court.
WATCH: Pro-Kannada activists set a vehicle on fire in #Bengaluru during protests over #CauveryIssue. pic.twitter.com/hDTuNZULd1
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 12, 2016
It rejected one of the prayers of Karnataka that the apex court direction asking it to release 15,000 cusecs water per day to Tamil Nadu be kept in abeyance till next date of hearing on the ground that there has been a fault in the Cauvery Water Tribunal award, which does not deal with the issue of deficient water in the reservoir in a particular month.
"If we are allowed to say then we must say that the tone and tenor of the application is absolutely disturbing and to say the least, totally depricable...That apart the application for modification contain certain averment which follow the tenor or similar language which cannot be conceived of in a court of law seeking modification of an order," the Press Trust of India, quoted the bench as saying.
"Agitation, spontaneity or galvanised riot or any kind of catalystic component can never form the foundation for seeking modification of an order," Press Trust of India quoted the bench as saying. An order of this court has to be complied by all the concerned and it is the obligation of the executive to ensure that the orders are complied in letter and spirit.
During the hearing, the bench noted the stiff claim and counter-claims of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and said that it would apply the concept of fair compensation in the matter and fixed it for further hearing on September 20.
On September 9, Karnataka, mainly its capital, Bengaluru shut after a bandh call by Kannada activists against the earlier Supreme Court directive.
Tamil Nadu said that it requires the water from Cauvery river to save its standing Samba crops, while Karnataka claims that weak monsoon has led to its four reservoirs becoming half empty.
The lack of good monsoon in the catchment areas has resulted in water in the Krishna Raja Sagara dam at 17.96 TMC as against its total capacity of 49.45 TMC.
