New Delhi: Karnataka on Wednesday reiterated before the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) that it is not in a position to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, citing a sharp rainfall deficit and worsening drought conditions across the state.
During the CWRC meeting in New Delhi, Tamil Nadu pressed for the release of its allocated share of Cauvery water. In response, Karnataka officials argued that deficient monsoon rainfall in the Cauvery catchment had severely affected water availability, with reservoirs receiving negligible inflows during June.
The state informed the committee that although parts of the basin have received light rainfall in July, storage levels in major reservoirs continue to remain critically low. Officials maintained that the available water must be conserved to meet drinking water requirements, especially as there is no clear indication of a significant improvement in monsoon activity in the coming days.
Karnataka also pointed out that farmers within the state are seeking water for irrigation, but the prevailing scarcity has made it difficult to meet agricultural demand. Given the current situation, the state told the CWRC that releasing water from the Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) reservoir to Tamil Nadu was not feasible at this stage.
Officials further informed the committee that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking the deployment of a central team to assess the drought situation in Karnataka and extend appropriate assistance for drought management.
