Chairman of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, Mr Justice N.P. Singh, has resigned citing ill health.

Sources in the Water Resources Ministry said Mr Singh (80) sent his resignation papers earlier this week.

The Tribunal, which gave its final award on February 5, 2007, asking Karnataka to ensure 192 tmc. ft (thousand metric cubit feet) of water annually at Biligundlu on the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border, was to hear an application moved by the Tamil Nadu Government on April 17.

“But following his resignation, the hearing is set to be deferred,” a senior Ministry official said.

The Tribunal was constituted in 1990. He was appointed its chairman after the then incumbent Justice, Mr Chittatosh Mookerjee, resigned.

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