Chennai: A petition has been filed on behalf of Tamil Nadu asking that the Supreme Court take appropriate action against Karnataka for not abiding by the apex court’s order and refusing to release water from the River Cauvery.

According to reports, the petition states that there is a clear contempt of court and that the refusal to release water will affect the prospects of thousands of farmers in the delta area.

The Cauvery Supervisory Committee had on September 19 asked Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs per day from September 21 to 30, but the Apex Court had on September 20 doubled the quantum to 6,000 cusecs from September 21 to 27, after Tamil Nadu pressed for water to save its Samba paddy crop. Meanwhile this morning, the Karnataka government filed a petition seeking modification of the court’s order on Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.

The petition comes after both houses of the Karnataka Assembly passed resolutions mandating use of Cauvery water for no purpose other than drinking water for cities in the river’s basin, including Bengaluru.

Through the petition, the Karnataka government is believed to have requested the apex court that release of water to Tamil Nadu be deferred as the water available in the four reservoirs will be needed to meet the drinking water requirement.