Cauvery row: BSY urges SC to study ground realities

'Water in KRS, Kabini, Harangi dams just enough to meet drinking needs'

BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa urged the Supreme Court to send a team of experts and get a report on the availability of water in the KRS dam before issuing orders in the Cauvery River water-sharing dispute

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During his visit to KRS in Srirangapatna taluk, he said, the state government should convince both — Karnataka advocate Fali S Nariman and the SC judges — about the crisis in Karnataka to do justice to our farmers. “There is no sufficient water in the KRS dam, so it is impossible to release water to Tamil Nadu. Hence, the court should verify facts before issuing orders. This year, we were mandated to release 94 tmcft of water to Tamil Nadu till date. Despite the water crisis, we have so far released 80 tmcft. The water available in KRS, Harangi and Kabini dams can only meet the drinking water needs of the people in the region, this year. Farmers are already reeling under drought for the last three years and the situation will continue till the next monsoon,” he said.

“The storage capacity of KRS dam is only 49.5 tmcft, and now it has 18.59 tmcft of water. Last year, on the corresponding date, it had 27.1 tmcft of water. Farmers needed 10.12 tmcft of water till August 10, but only 9 tmcft of water has been released till date. The crops in the region need an additional 30 TMC ft of water till December end to reap the crops. But, there is no water. Hence, the state government should stop releasing Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. The BJP will extend full support to the government in the water issue,” the ex-CM said.

When media persons pointed out that Karnataka advocate Fali Nariman has asked the government to release water to Tamil Nadu, claiming that it will help him argue in the Supreme Court, Yeddyurappa said, the advocate should also be convinced about the ground realities.

‘Revive Brindavan Gardens’
Pointing out at the dry Brindavan Gardens, he said, the chief minister should inspect the dam and the garden and direct the authorities concerned to refurbish the famed garden as the Dasara season is setting in. “During Dasara, thousands of tourists will visit Mysuru and most of them make it a point to visit the Brindavan Gardens. If the gardens are dry, due to drought, tourism will also be affected,” he said.