Cauvery water flows quietly to Tamil Nadu

While Water Resources Minister M B Patil  has been persistently denying on releasing water to Tamil Nadu from KRS dam, citing low reservoir level, water is being released to neighbouring state.

The minister had recently said that the water level in the KRS reservoir is low and that the water would be retained in the dam to meet drinking water needs and irrigation. He added that water would not be released to Tamil Nadu.

On Sunday, a total of 7,805 cusecs of water was released from the dam. Of which, 3,261 cusecs of water was released into Visvesvaraya Canal while 4,367 cusecs was released to Cauvery river. Of the water released to river, about 2,200 cusecs of water reaches Chikkadevaraya, Virija, Bangaradoddi, Ramaswamy and Rajaparameshwari canals for agricultural activities, while the remaining 2,167 cusec flows to Tamil Nadu, according to Cauvery Neeravari Nigam sources.

The Cauvery Consultative Committee meeting resolved to release the water into the canals on a rotation basis. Accordingly, the water would be released into canals for 20 days in a month.

According to Superintending Engineer of Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Shankare Gowda, “Based on the current inflow to the dam, water can be released to canals only upto November.”

Joint Director of Agriculture department, Rajasulochana said, “The farmers have been advised not to grow sugar cane and cultivate paddy on a limited level. The distribution of paddy seeds have also been stopped anticipating shortage of water.”

The total storage capacity of the KRS reservoir is 49.45 tmc ft (124.80 feet level) while the current level is 26 tmc ft. Apart from eight tmc ft reserved for drinking water purpose and dead storage, the available water level is just 18 tmc.

Meanwhile, Raitha Hitharakshana Samiti president and former MP G Madegowda has warned that an agitation would be launched, if the authorities do not stop releasing water to Tamil Nadu.