Karnataka to contest CWRC directive on Cauvery water, hold all-party meet

New Delhi: In response to a recent directive from the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC), Karnataka is gearing up to contest the order requiring the release of 1 tmcft (thousand million cubic feet) of water daily to Tamil Nadu until the end of July. The decision follows concerns over a shortfall in reservoir inflows despite a predicted normal monsoon.

Siddaramaiah chairs all-party meeting

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah chaired a crucial meeting in Bengaluru where the decision to challenge CWRC's order was finalized. The state government will convene an all-party meeting on July 14 to strategize its response to the water release mandate.

Addressing the media after the meeting, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah highlighted a 28% deficit in water inflows across all four reservoirs in the Cauvery basin. With only about 60 tmcft of water currently available, he emphasized the need to prioritize local agricultural requirements amidst the scarcity.

14ನೇ ತಾರೀಖಿನ ಭಾನುವಾರ ಸಂಜೆ 4 ಗಂಟೆಗೆ ವಿಧಾನಸೌಧದ ಸಮ್ಮೇಳನ ಸಭಾಂಗಣದಲ್ಲಿ " ಕಾವೇರಿ ನದಿ ನೀರಿನ" ಕುರಿತು ಸರ್ವಪಕ್ಷಗಳ‌ ಸಭೆಯನ್ನು ಏರ್ಪಾಡು ಮಾಡಲಾಗಿದೆ.

ಈ ಸಭೆಗೆ ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಸರ್ವಪಕ್ಷಗಳ ಸದಸ್ಯರು, ಕೇಂದ್ರ ಸಚಿವರು, ಸಂಸತ್ ಸದಸ್ಯರು, ಕಾವೇರಿ ಜಲಾನಯನ ಪ್ರದೇಶದ ವಿಧಾನಸಭಾ ಮತ್ತು ವಿಧಾನ ಪರಿಷತ್ ಸದಸ್ಯರು ಹಾಜರಾಗಿ ಕಾವೇರಿ ನೀರು… pic.twitter.com/N4wwqSqj4j

— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) July 12, 2024

Political unity over Cauvery water release

Ministers and officials at the meeting unanimously supported Karnataka's appeal to CWMA (Cauvery Water Management Authority) against CWRC's decision. The forthcoming all-party gathering aims to unify political stakeholders from Karnataka, including Union Ministers and legislators from the Cauvery basin, to chart a collective course of action.

Water release conditions

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar highlighted specific reservoir statistics, noting that while the Kabini reservoir is nearly full at 96%, releases are being made in compliance with safety protocols. "The Kabini reservoir is 96% full and water is being released from the dam in accordance with the safety norms," he said.