Bengaluru: The State government on Monday filed a Special Leave Petition before the Supreme Court against the Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal’s interim award rejecting its plea for 7 tmcft of water.

The government in its petition has requested the Supreme Court for directing the tribunal to delete some of its observations. The state government is worried that these observations may impact the final award of the inter-state water dispute

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said that Karnataka government never stated that it would not release water to Tamil Nadu.

“We have not said we will not give water to Tamil Nadu. We have tried to explain the ground reality in Cauvery basin,” Siddaramaiah said. He further said that Karnataka has given water to Tamil Nadu as per the distress formula, but it has demanded its share of water for a normal year.

There is less than 50 tmcft in reservoirs in Cauvery basin of which 40 tmcft is required to meet drinking water needs in the region. Tamil Nadu is demanding water for irrigation but Karnataka is finding difficult to meet drinking water needs, he said.

Siddaramaiah further said that Karnataka will apprise apex court of the situation in wake of the Tamil Nadu petition coming before it on September 2.