Karnataka chief minister DK Shivakumar stated that water release depends on availability amid halted reservoir inflows
BENGALURU: Karnataka chief minister DK Shivakumar on Wednesday said the state would release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu only if it was available, noting that inflows into its reservoirs had stopped due to a lack of rainfall.
Vaidyanathan said Tamil Nadu had assessed the deficit at 20 TMC, while Karnataka had put it at 16 TMC. Appearing for Tamil Nadu, senior counsel CS Vaidyanathan said the state had already lost its Purvai crop, an early or late Kharif crop, due to the shortage of water. Shivakumar said the state government was under significant pressure and planned to file an appeal regarding the matter, news agency ANI reported.
The Irrigation Minister is with us,” said Shivakumar. He alleged that Karnataka was “taking all the water” and said Tamil Nadu was seeking enforcement of the Cauvery water-sharing arrangement. He said Karnataka had nevertheless continued releasing water in compliance with directions issued by the CWMA.
“We will release water only if it is available; however, the inflow into our reservoirs has stopped. We are under immense pressure as the rains have ceased, and we intend to file an appeal. I will review the matter of filing an appeal during the special session meeting this evening. The bench asked Tamil Nadu about the extent of the alleged shortfall.