Bengaluru: Former Karnataka minister N. Chaluvarayaswamy has urged the state government to appeal to the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) against the directive to release water to Tamil Nadu, citing a sharp rainfall deficit and critically low reservoir levels.
In a statement, Chaluvarayaswamy said Karnataka had been directed to release 4 TMC of water over 15 days, equivalent to 3,500 cusecs per day, but the state’s reservoirs were not in a position to comply. He said he would soon discuss the issue with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy before taking a final decision on filing an appeal with the CWMA.
According to him, the Cauvery basin has recorded a 42.8% rainfall deficit this monsoon, while inflows into Karnataka’s reservoirs in early June stood at only 4.1 TMC, among the lowest recorded in decades. With limited rainfall in July and no significant improvement in the monsoon forecast, reservoir levels remain a cause for concern.
Referring to the Supreme Court’s observation that drinking water should receive priority, Chaluvarayaswamy said the Chief Minister had already advised farmers in Mandya and Mysuru districts to use Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) reservoir water only for drinking purposes.
He warned that releasing water to Tamil Nadu under the present circumstances could reduce reservoir storage to dead storage levels, affecting drinking water availability in Karnataka. Chaluvarayaswamy appealed for a balanced approach, saying both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu should prioritise ensuring adequate drinking water for their people before meeting irrigation requirements.
