State not to release water to TN

It is difficult to predict the situation next month, says minister

Water Resources Minister M B Patil on Wednesday said Karnataka will not be able to comply with the Cauvery River Water Dispute Tribunal (CRWDT) award to release about 90 tmc ft of water to Tamil Nadu between June and August, despite steady increase in the inflow in all the Cauvery reservoirs.

Speaking to reporters here, Patil said that although the Cauvery catchment was receiving good rains now, it would be difficult to predict the situation next month. So, it is difficult to comply with the award on release of water.

“The CRWDT award says that the State should release nearly 10 tmc ft in June, 30 tmc ft in July and 50 tmc ft in August, which is not possible when there is a distress situation,” he stated.

The inflow into the Kabini and KRS reservoirs are about 27,000 cusecs, while the outflow is about 15,000 cusecs, Patil added.

Patil said Karnataka has emerged victorious in its dispute with Tamil Nadu after a long time.

The Centre has decided not to set up the Cauvery Management Board as demanded by Tamil Nadu and, instead, accepted Karnataka’s demand to continue with the Supervisory Committee.

It was also decided not to accept the proposed guidelines to implement the CRWDT award, he said.

Asked whether the government will replace senior counsel Fali S Nariman, the minister said the question does not arise.

“Nariman’s integrity is unquestionable. He is representing Karnataka for long and has immense experience in handling the issue,” he stated.

Patil also said he is open for talks with Tamil Nadu government to resolve the issue amicably.

On Tamil Nadu government's decision to file a contempt petition against Karnataka in the Supreme Court for not complying the CRWDT award, Patil said Karnataka will give appropriate reply after receiving the notice from the court.

Protest warned

Farmers in Mandya district, however, suspect that the government is clandestinely releasing water to Tamil Nadu and therefore, it should release water to the canals in the district.

Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha leader and MLA K S Puttannaiah said farmers would resort to agitation if the government failed to release waters to the canals by July 5.
Puttannaiah told Deccan Herald in Mandya that previous governments had released water to Tamil Nadu, despite issuing statements that no water would be released to the neighbouring State.