Question of distribution has to be decided by CRA Karnataka has informed the Supreme Court that neither the interim order nor the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal can be enforced against it. The release of water has to be decided only by the Cauvery River Authority headed by the Prime Minister. This stand is contrary to the Centre's clarification issued to Karnataka in June last year that the interim order was effective and binding on the four riparian States till the Tribunal's final award directing Karnataka to release 192 tmcft of water at Biligundlu was notified in the gazette. Since the Tribunal was yet to give its clarification in view of the pendency of the appeals in the Supreme Court, interim order would operate, the Centre stated. Responding to Tamil Nadu's application for a direction to restrain Karnataka from taking up, executing or commissioning any new check dams or irrigation works and/or lift irrigation schemes creating new ayacut, Karnataka said "during the pendency of the appeal before this court, there is no operative regime, governing the distribution of Cauvery waters.' The matter is expected to come up for further hearing shortly. The affidavit said "the interim order dated June 25, 1991 [to release 205 tmcft of water] cannot be enforced against Karnataka because it [order] has spent itself on its own terms since it is specifically mentioned in the said order