Hassan, July 30: Central Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has labeled the order from the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) as ‘unscientific’ and a ‘death warrant’ for Karnataka. The directive requires the state to release 3,500 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu for 15 days, despite Karnataka facing severe drought conditions.
Speaking to reporters in Hardanahalli, Kumaraswamy highlighted the challenges posed by low rainfall and dwindling reservoir levels, making it difficult for the state to meet its own water needs. He emphasized that the CWRC’s order is akin to a death sentence for Karnataka, which is grappling with drought-like conditions.
“We are struggling to provide water to our farmers. The priority should be on drinking water needs. In such a challenging situation, ordering Karnataka to release water to a neighboring state is unscientific,” he stated.
Kumaraswamy warned that if rainfall remains low in the coming weeks, the situation could worsen. He urged unity among the people to oppose the CWRC’s order. “If it doesn’t rain in the coming days, the crisis will deepen. Everyone must come together to resist this order,” he said. Farmers and various organizations have already begun protests against the directive.
He pointed out that Tamil Nadu is exerting pressure at a time when Karnataka lacks sufficient water. Kumaraswamy stressed the need for Karnataka to communicate the ground realities to the Cauvery Authority. However, he refrained from blaming the state’s legal team and officials for how the matter has been handled.
“I cannot say our legal experts and officials did not present the case properly. However, we need to introspect on how well we have managed our water resources,” he remarked.
The former Chief Minister criticized past governments for failing to store adequate water during years of good rainfall. “Last year, our reservoirs were filled three times. That was the time to take precautionary measures and fill lakes and tanks across the state. If the irrigation department and government had acted in time, more water could have been conserved. Instead, water was allowed to flow away without being used to fill the lakes,” he noted.
Kumaraswamy also mentioned that Tamil Nadu has not made full use of the excess rainwater and has allowed much of it to flow into the sea. “Now we are facing the consequences of those decisions,” he concluded.
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