Bengaluru, August 12: Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced on Tuesday that the Cauvery Water Management Authority has requested the state to release 12,000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu for the next 15 days. However, the state government will decide on this request based on the water availability in its reservoirs.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, he mentioned that a high-level meeting with ministers and experts will be convened to discuss the matter.
Shivakumar stated that the government is closely monitoring the water flow in the state’s reservoirs to ensure the interests of Karnataka’s farmers are protected. He reassured farmers, saying, “There is an order to release 12,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu. I am continuously monitoring the water levels in our reservoirs. We will make a decision based on the availability of water. Farmers need not worry about the order to release water. I urge them to remain patient and calm.”
He emphasized that the government respects court orders while also striving to protect the crops of Karnataka’s farmers. “We have the right to serve you. We do not want farmers to suffer under any circumstances. Nature will protect us, and we will safeguard our farmers,” he added.
Shivakumar assured that the government would handle the Cauvery issue transparently and would not allow it to become a political matter. “I will work with complete transparency on irrigation-related issues. There can be no politics in this matter. While respecting court orders, our top priority is to protect our farmers’ crops,” he said.
The Chief Minister indicated that senior ministers and party leaders would discuss the issue on Tuesday night, while a cabinet meeting has been called for Wednesday to determine legal and political actions.
Meanwhile, Water Resources Minister Ramalinga Reddy stated that releasing 12,000 cusecs of water daily for 15 days would amount to over 15 TMC of water. “The CWRC has asked us to release 12,000 cusecs of water daily for the next 15 days. This means we will have to release more than 15 TMC of water. Our additional chief secretary, irrigation experts, and a team of Supreme Court lawyers who have been debating the Cauvery issue for the past 20 years are currently in Delhi,” he noted.
Reddy also mentioned that Karnataka has already released a significant amount of water to Tamil Nadu during May, June, and July. “Approximately 3.5 TMC of water was released during these months. Since the Kabini reservoir was full and there was no room for additional water, about 7.5 TMC of water flowed towards Tamil Nadu,” he explained.
He expressed concern over the weakening southwest monsoon in Karnataka, stating that the state cannot solely rely on August rains. “Our southwest monsoon is weakening, and we cannot depend entirely on August rains. However, there is a possibility of northeast monsoon rains in Tamil Nadu,” he added.
The minister mentioned that the government would make its next decision after consulting with the Chief Minister and considering the outcomes of the Cauvery Water Management Authority meeting and the Supreme Court hearing.
Sources have confirmed that amid concerns over drinking water availability and farmers’ needs, the state government has decided to challenge the CWRC’s recommendation. The CWRC has suggested that Karnataka release 12,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu daily for 15 days.
Karnataka is expected to argue that the likelihood of good southwest monsoon rains in the state is low in the coming days, while northeast monsoon rains are anticipated in Tamil Nadu later in the year. The state government asserts that releasing 12,000 cusecs of water daily could impact water availability for agriculture in Karnataka.
This latest development is likely to escalate the Cauvery water dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, as Karnataka insists that its drinking water and agricultural needs must be considered before any additional water is released.
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