Karnataka lacks sufficient Cauvery water to release to Tamil Nadu: Minister M.B. Patil

Bengaluru, July 29 (IANS) Karnataka does not have sufficient Cauvery water to release to Tamil Nadu this year as the river basin has received inadequate rainfall, Large and Medium Industries Minister M.B. Patil said on Wednesday, criticising the direction of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) asking the state to release 4.5 TMC of water to its neighbouring state.

Responding to questions from reporters, Patil said the reservoirs in the Cauvery catchment area have not received adequate inflows due to poor monsoon conditions.

“There has not been good rainfall in the Cauvery basin this year. Consequently, the reservoirs in the region do not have enough water. Under such circumstances, it is not appropriate for the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee to direct Karnataka to release 4.5 TMC of water to Tamil Nadu,” he said.

Patil pointed out that Karnataka has never had issues sharing Cauvery waters during years of abundant rainfall and has often released more water than the stipulated allocation to Tamil Nadu.

“When there is good rainfall, there is no problem in sharing Cauvery water. In such years, Karnataka has released more than the prescribed 177 TMC to Tamil Nadu. However, there is no distress-sharing formula in place for drought years. The Mekedatu balancing reservoir project is the answer to all these issues,” he said.

The minister said Karnataka requires infrastructure to store a total of 65 TMC of water, including the additional 14 TMC allocated to the state under the final Cauvery water-sharing award.

“It was during my tenure as Water Resources Minister that the concept of the Mekedatu project was proposed. The project will benefit Tamil Nadu as well. However, internal politics in that state is preventing progress. Tamil Nadu should acknowledge the simple fact that the Mekedatu reservoir will be beneficial to both states,” Patil asserted.

He further said that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who had previously handled the Water Resources portfolio, and the current Water Resources Minister Ramalinga Reddy would deliberate on measures to address the present crisis.

Patil also urged the Centre’s committee to thoroughly examine the current water storage levels, including video evidence and official data, before arriving at any decision regarding the release of Cauvery water.

–IANS

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