Cauvery water to be released to fill up lakes; storage hits 46-year low

Bowing to pressure from farmers, the state government on Wednesday decided to release water from the four reservoirs of the Cauvery river to fill up lakes in command areas.

Water will be released from Thursday. But it will be only for drinking purpose. The farmers have been urged not to take up cultivation of water-intensive crops like paddy and sugar cane, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah told reporters after holding a meeting with elected representatives from Mandya district.

In all, 45 tmcft of water is available in the four major reservoirs — the lowest in 46 years. Around this time last year, the major reservoirs of the Cauvery river basin — KRS, Kabini, Harangi and Hemavathi — had 53.52 tmcft of water. “Our priority now is to improve groundwater levels that have plummeted. So, water will be released to fill up lakes and tanks in the river basin,” he said, adding that cloud-seeding will be taken up next week.

Water Resources Minister M B Patil said Karnataka is expected to release to Tamil Nadu 10 tmcft in June, 34 tmcft in July and 50 tmcft in August in a normal year. “Three-fifths of the monsoon has passed in June and July and we are in a crisis. We hope the Meteorological Department’s forecast of rainfall in August will come true. Nothing is in our hands,” Patil said. So far, the state has released 12 tmcft water to Tamil Nadu, he added.

The Supreme Court is hearing arguments on the review petition filed by Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala against the 2007 Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal’s final award. An apex court bench had earlier directed the state to release 2,000 cusecs to Tamil Nadu every day till further orders. “Our arguments have gone well. We have reiterated our stand that the 1894 and 1924 agreements on Cauvery water-sharing should not be given importance,” Patil said.