The CWRC directed the Karnataka government to ensure 3,000 cusecs of water every day to the neighbouring state from 16 to 31 October.
Published Oct 11, 2023 | 9:38 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 11, 2023 | 10:49 PM
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The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) order on Wednesday, 11 October, to Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for 16 days from 16 October attracted severe criticism from farmer associations on Wednesday.
Despite Karnataka arguing in Wednesday’s CWRC meeting in Delhi that it could not release water to Tamil Nadu due to severe distress and lack of water in reservoirs in the Cauvery river basin, the CWRC directed it to ensure 3,000 cusecs of water every day to the neighbouring state from 16 October.
It may be noted that the Siddaramaiah-led-Karnataka government had said that it would file a petition challenging the previous orders of the CWRC and Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) before the Supreme Court. However, the government has yet to file a petition.
Meanwhile, in a relief to Karnataka, several parts including the coast, Malnad, and the South, received good rainfall in the last 24 hours. This led to a minor increase in inflow to four reservoirs in the Cauvery basin.
In the midst of distress and opposition from farmers and elected members, the Karnataka government released around 46.1 tmcft of water at Biligundlu from 1 June to 3 October.
As the CWRC ordered Karnataka yet again to release water to Tamil Nadu, the Opposition leaders in the former blamed the Siddaramaiah government and called it a “failure of governance”.
In a major setback to Karnataka, the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) on Wednesday, 11 October, directed the Karnataka government to release 3,000 cusecs of water every day to Tamil Nadu from 16 to 31 October.
The representatives of both states participated in the CWRC meeting held in Delhi on Wednesday and argued before the committee.
Pointing out the severe drought in Karnataka, the representatives of the state said: “Given the distress flows and the extreme hydro-meteorological conditions, it is inferred that the flows into the Karnataka reservoirs cannot be relied upon with any assurance.”
They added: “Therefore, Karnataka will not be able to release any water from its reservoirs so as to reach Biligundlu except that would be contributed from the uncontrolled catchment.”
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu said that Karnataka had to release 16,000 cusecs daily, which amounts to 20.75 tmcft.
After hearing the arguments of both states, the CWRC directed Karnataka to ensure releases from its reservoirs so that 3,000 cusecs are realised at Biligundlu from 16 to 31 October.
Meanwhile, incessant rainfall over the last 24 hours brought some relief in the Cauvery basin as the inflows to the Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) reservoir saw a slight increase.
According to Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC): “In the last 24 hours, the state has recorded 7 percent excess rain. The coastal and Malnad regions have witnessed excess rain of 80 and 24 percent, respectively.”
The reports added: “The south region has recorded 53 percent excess rain in the same period of time. However, the north region recorded a rain deficit of 56 percent. Since the onset of the monsoon, the state has recorded a 27 percent rain deficit.”
With the Cauvery basin receiving more inflow for the last few days, the water levels saw an increase in four reservoirs of the basin.
The reservoirs now have a total storage of 66.12 tmcft against the maximum storage capacity of 114.57 tmcft.
According to the KSNDMC: “The KRS dam has 23.32 tmcft of water against the maximum storage capacity of 49.45 tmcft.”
It added: “The inflow stands at 5,578 cusecs and outflow at 6,165 cusecs. Harangi, Hemavathi and Kabini have water storage of 7.78 tmcft, 20.10 tmcft, and 14.93 tmcft, against the maximum capacity of 8.50 tmcft, 37.10 tmcft, and 19.52 tmcft, respectively.”
Responding to the CWRC order, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who also holds the water resources portfolio, asserted that the state government was committed to protecting the interests of farmers of the state.
Shivakumar told reporters in Mysuru on Wednesday: “For the last two-three days, around 8,000-10,000 cusecs of water has been flowing into our reservoirs, We have worked towards protecting the interests of our farmers.”
ರಾಜ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಬರ ಪರಿಸ್ಥಿತಿಯನ್ನು ಕಾವೇರಿ ನೀರು ನಿಯಂತ್ರಣ ಸಮಿತಿಗೆ (CWRC) ಮನದಟ್ಟು ಮಾಡಿಕೊಡಲಾಗಿದೆ. ಇಷ್ಟಾದರೂ ಪ್ರತಿದಿನ 3ಸಾವಿರ ಕ್ಯೂಸೆಕ್ ನೀರು ಹರಿಸಬೇಕೆಂದು ಇಂದು ಆದೇಶ ನೀಡಿದೆ. ಸಮಿತಿಯು ಏನೇ ಆದೇಶ ನೀಡಿದರೂ ನಮ್ಮ ರೈತರ ಹಿತ ಕಾಯಲು ನಾವು ಬದ್ಧರಾಗಿದ್ದೇವೆ. ಕಾವೇರಿ ನೀರು ಹಂಚಿಕೆ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆಗೆ ಮೇಕೆದಾಟು ಯೋಜನೆಯೇ ಏಕೈಕ…
— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) October 11, 2023
He added: “Even though we release less water from the dams, the amount of water flowing into Biligundlu has been compensated by the rains around Bengaluru. We have tried to inform the committee about the ground situation in our state. Whatever order comes, we will protect the interests of our farmers.”
On CWRC and CWMA members not visiting the Cauvery basin in Karnataka despite appeals being made to them, he said: “We have submitted a request in this regard. The final decision should be taken by them. We cannot speak publicly on this issue.”
He also pointed out: “The drought situation in the state has affected power generation. The amount of power generated by water has gone down. The government will take necessary steps to compensate for this.”
As the CWRC directed Karnataka to release water to Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, BJP leader and former Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai blamed the Siddaramaiah government and said: “It is a complete failure of governance.”
Bommai told reporters: “The CWRC gave an order against the interest of Karnataka. It is not ready to consider the illegal water consumption by Tamil Nadu and the real water requirement — mainly for drinking purposes — in Karnataka.”
He added: “The Karnataka government is unable to control these developments in the CWRC, CWMA, and Supreme Court. The chief minister had promised to go against the earlier orders of the CWRC and the CWMA before the Supreme Court, but it has not yet filed a petition.”
He continued: “The state government is obeying all the orders of the authorities. The result is that one more order is slapped against Karnataka. It is a failure of the Karnataka government.”
Several farmer associations, including Karnataka Jala Hitarakshana Samiti (KJHS) and the State Farmers’ Associations’ Union, have condemned the CWRC order.
KJHS members, led by Karnataka State Sugarcane Growers Association president Kurbur Shanthakumar, had met Union Minister for Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekawat and demanded a Union government intervention in the matter. They also presented the facts, including the drought situation, in the Cauvery basin in Karnataka.
Karnataka’s Congress government has declared 32 talukas in the Cauvery basin as drought-hit.
Responding to the CWRC order, Shanthakumar told reporters in Bengaluru on Wednesday: “The latest CWRC order is against the interests of Karnataka. The reservoirs in the Cauvery basin are empty due to the failure of the monsoon.”
He noted: “The CWRC has once again ordered to release 3,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for the next 16 days, which is a big shock to the state. It raises the possibility that the authorities and committees were formed to give such shocks to the state. These orders are against the wishes of the Constitution and union. The authorities are testing the patience and tolerance of Kannadigas. This order is a death knell for the interest of Karnataka.”
He pointed out: “The people of Bengaluru are facing a severe drinking water crisis. Farmers in the Cauvery basin have not grown a single crop due to an inadequate supply of water. Despite bad conditions, the authorities and committees are issuing orders against the state. The principle of equal justice has been neglected in this regard.”
He also said: “Kannadigas are humans, too. We, too, need food and water. The committee seems to have forgotten that it is also a part of this union system.”
He added: “The government does not have the courage to disobey this order. Farmers and people should unite to fight for their rights.”
He also said: “The government is least worried about protecting the interests of farmers and the people of the state. Though farmers are in distress, the government is proceeding with the mindset that the Cauvery should flow to Tamil Nadu. This is unacceptable.”
