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Journalism of Courage
Maintaining that Karnataka was not in a position to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the state was exploring a legal route against the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee’s (CWRC) recommendation to release 5,000 cusecs of water to the neighbouring state for 15 days starting September 13.
Speaking to reporters after an emergency meeting, Siddaramaiah said, “We will file an application (with CWRC) asking it to reconsider (the recommendation to release water). Based on their decision, we will also file an application before the Supreme Court and explain the reality of the water situation in the state.”
Karnataka has released 37.7 TMC from Krishnarajasagar (KRS) dam till September 11 to Tamil Nadu against a requirement of 99 TMC, due to low reservoir levels. “We need 70 TMC water to save crops. Drinking water requires 33 TMC and industries 3 TMC till July next year. We have only 53 TMC (storage) in the four reservoirs — KRS, Kabini, Hemavathy and Harangi,” the CM said.
On whether the state government would not abide by the regulations and not release water to Tamil Nadu, Siddaramaiah said that “more than not releasing water, we are trying to convince CWRC that we don’t have water to share.”
Deputy CM DK Shivakumar will also travel to Delhi on Wednesday to hold discussions with the legal team over the issue. The government will take a decision on the matter based on the advice of the legal team. “There are legal implications to not releasing water,” he said.
The water-sharing dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu has surfaced again this year due to low rainfall during the monsoon season. The rainfall received on August was the lowest in 123 years, according to the CM.
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