State will counter TN's contention on Cauvery issue in SC: Minister

The State government is all set to defend its stance before the Supreme Court where Tamil Nadu has filed an interim application demandingthat Karnataka release 45.327 tmc ft of water to make good the shortfall.

Water Resources Minister M B Patil on Monday told the media in Bengaluru that Karnataka would furnish a para-wise reply to the contentions raised by Tamil Nadu, for releasing lesser quantum of water from River Cauvery, over the last three and a half months.

 The reply would be furnished after October 26. Tamil Nadu filed the interim application on October 16. It has appealed to the SC to direct Karnataka to ensure release of stipulated quantity of water from October 1. The case is yet to be admitted.

As per the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT), under normal conditions, Karnataka should have released 146.77 tmc ft as on October 18. But since June, Karnataka has released 102.55 tmc ft. This is owing to deficient rainfall in the State, he said.

He said Tamil Nadu’s move held little water as the distress situation was yet to be assessed by the Cauvery Supervisory Committee.

The reality would be presented before the court. The State is reeling under acute drought conditions, he added.

According to officials of the department, the Centre is yet to appoint the chairperson and members for the proposed sub-committee (under the Supervisory Committee).

Officials said that despite the distress situation, Karnataka had released 3.25 tmc ft “excess” water to Tamil Nadu. They said that owing to the distress conditions, water was being “proportionately calculated” and released to Tamil Nadu.

In October, Karnataka should have released 22 tmc ft under normal conditions, but it could release only 13 tmc ft, because of deficient rainfall, the sources said.
DH News Service