Karnataka for distress formula from SC on Cauvery water sharing with Tamil Nadu during droughts

A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court will hear a petition by Tamil Nadu Friday, August 25, in which it has challenged the Cauvery Water Management Authority’s decision directing Karnataka to release 10,000 cusecs of water for 15 days from the Krishnarajasagar (KRS) reservoir.

The Authority had earlier directed the release of 15,000 cusecs of water daily from August 11, which was reduced due to the drought situation in Karnataka. The battle between the two states over Cauvery water sharing has surfaced again due to the drought conditions in the region.

CM Siddaramaiah said that neither the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal nor other related bodies have come up with a distress formula. “One, there should be a distress formula. Second, the Mekedatu balancing reservoir should be constructed,” he said.

The construction of the reservoir will allow Karnataka to release water from Mekedatu – which can hold 67 TMC water – during crisis years, Siddaramaiah said, accusing Tamil Nadu of opposing the project without any grounds.

According to sources, Karnataka will make the plea for a distress formula to be applied during future drought years, while requesting it to order the release of water based on ‘ground realities’ of lower water levels in reservoirs of the state.

An all-party delegation will also head to Delhi to apprise the Prime Minister, Union Jal Shakthi Minister and Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change on the implementation of Mekedatu and Mahadayi projects, and for the gazette notification of the third stage of Upper Krishna Project.

The CM alleged that there were unnecessary delays for clearing the Mekedatu project. The project in Kittur Karnataka region is challenged by the neighbouring Goa government.

The dates for the delegation meeting with Central leaders will be announced soon, he said.

Commenting on water sharing with Tamil Nadu, Siddaramaiah said that Karnataka had to release a combined 86.38 TMC of water in June, July and August. However, rainfall is deficient in the catchment areas of Cauvery river leading to low storage levels in the four dams (KRS, Kabini, Harangi and Hemavathy) of the basin. Due to this, Karnataka was able to release only around 23 TMC water from June to August 22.

He contended that Tamil Nadu had enough water in Mettur dam and the downstream state was not affected due to decreased rainfall.