Bengaluru: The Karnataka government is preparing to approach the Supreme Court challenging the Cauvery Water Management Authority’s (CWMA) decision to uphold an order directing the state to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water daily to Tamil Nadu.
Water Resources Minister N. Chaluvarayaswamy said on Wednesday that the government was preparing an application, which is likely to be filed on September 10 after consultations with legal experts.
Speaking at Vidhana Soudha, Chaluvarayaswamy said he had held a detailed discussion with Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on the issue.
He said the state’s reservoir situation remained a concern and Karnataka was facing difficulties in releasing the mandated quantity of water.
“Priority needs to be given to drinking water,” the minister said, adding that Karnataka also needs to replenish depleted lakes and reservoirs.
The minister said the government would seek legal remedies to protect the state’s interests. The CWRC has also been asked to file a review petition, he said.
Chaluvarayaswamy claimed that Karnataka had already released around 30 TMC of water to Tamil Nadu this season, in addition to about 100 TMC released earlier.
Despite this, Tamil Nadu had continued to exert pressure on Karnataka, he alleged.
The minister said the situation could improve if the state receives good rainfall after the Gauri-Ganesh festival, which could help improve inflows into reservoirs.
The state government is also seriously considering appointing a special advocate to represent Karnataka’s case before the Supreme Court, Chaluvarayaswamy said.
He added that the suggestion made by former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai in this regard would also be examined.
The latest move comes amid renewed tension between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over the sharing of Cauvery water, with Karnataka insisting that its drinking-water requirements and reservoir conditions must be taken into account.
