Karnataka releases 18.56 tmc ft more Cauvery water to TN

Karnataka has released 18.56 tmc feet of surplus Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu from the Krishnaraja Sagara (KRS) and Kabini dams, thus ruling out any possibility of a “crisis” this year. 

The State has released a total of 163.21 tmc feet of water to Tamil Nadu, as against 144.65 tmc feet, as per the award of the Cauvery Tribunal. The possibility of a crisis loomed large when the onset of monsoon delayed in June. But thanks to bountiful rainfall in the following months, the dam filled to the brim. 

In June, Karnataka released 5.98 tmc feet of water to the neighbouring state as against the stipulated 10 tmc feet. In July, 34.36 tmc ft of water was released as against 34 tmc feet. In August, it released 61.02 tmc feet of water against 50 tmc feet, and in September, 41.34 tmc feet of water against 40 tmc feet. Karnataka was supposed to release 10.65 tmc ft of water till October 15 while it has already released 20.40 tmc ft. The quantity of water being released would come down in the coming months, officials said. 

In 2013, the State had released a surplus of 15 tmc feet of water owing to good rainfall in the catchment areas. However, in 2012, due to the deficient rainfall, water was released amid vehement protests in the district. Subsequently, by March 2013, the KRS reached the dead storage level. The situation worsened with most of the lakes and ponds drying up, resulting in the acute shortage of drinking water. 

A brimming KRS this year has eased the water-sharing problem to a large extent. The reservoir has 124.80 feet of water at present (full reservoir capacity: 124.69 feet). It can be recalled that in 1992, as much as two lakh cusecs of water was released from the KRS, due to very good rainfall. Cauvery river quenches the thirst of various villages and towns of Mandya, Bangalore, Ramanagara, Mysore and Chamarajanagara districts.