Karnataka CM plans all-party delegation to meet PM Modi over interstate water disputes

They decided at the meeting to take an all-party delegation to meet Modi, Union Minister for Water Resources Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Union Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Bhupendra Yadav over the interstate water disputes.

The Opposition parties had demanded that the state government call for an all-party meeting after the Congress government’s move to release 10 tmcft of water led to tensions in the Cauvery basin, mainly in Mandya.

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The condition in Karnataka

After deliberations over the interstate water disputes, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the government would take an all-party delegation to meet the prime minister at the earliest.

In the meeting, discussions were held on the Cauvery water dispute, Mahadayi water dispute, Krishna water dispute, and the Mekedatu Project.

Stating that there would be no compromise when it came to water, language, and border issues, Siddaramaiah told reporters: “We held an all-party meeting and presented the ground reality. The advocate general also detailed the legal aspects of all the water disputes.”

He added: “We will seriously consider the suggestions of all the party leaders. We have strongly presented our arguments before the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) to protect the interests of our farmers.”

He continued: “This monsoon, the state has recorded deficient rainfall. We were supposed to release 86.38 tmcft of water, but we could release only 26 tmcft to Tamil Nadu till 22 August due to rain deficit.”

Siddaramaiah also said: “In June and August, the state recorded a rain deficit and in July we received surplus rainfall. We were ordered to discharge 15,000 cusecs of water every day to the neighbouring state but due to strong arguments by our legal team, it was lowered to 10,000 cusecs per day. We have already asked the legal team to reconsider its decision.”

ಕಾವೇರಿ, ಮೇಕೆದಾಟು ಮತ್ತು ಮಹದಾಯಿ ಜಲ ವಿವಾದಗಳ ಕುರಿತಂತೆ ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿ @siddaramaiah ಅವರ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷತೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಇಂದು ಸರ್ವಪಕ್ಷಗಳ ಸಭೆ ನಡೆಯಿತು.

ಸಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಜಲ ಸಂಪನ್ಮೂಲ ಹಾಗೂ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿ ಸಚಿವ @DKShivakumar, ಮಾಜಿ ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿಗಳಾದ @BSBommai, @BSYBJP, @hd_kumaraswamy, ಜಗದೀಶ ಶೆಟ್ಟರ್, @DVSadanandGowda,… pic.twitter.com/T8eKyXPUG1

— CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) August 23, 2023

Stating that Tamil Nadu had utilised excess water, Siddaramaiah pointed out: “Around 63 tmcft of water is available in the Mettur Water Reservoir in Tamil Nadu. For the Kuruvai crop, they require only 32 tmcft of water, but they utilised more than 60 tmcft of water.”

He added: “They have also increased the irrigation land. They are not facing any issues with their crops but still, they are objecting. We are facing a severe rain deficit in the Cauvery basin.”

He also said that the Karnataka government would pressure the Union government for the preparation of a distress formula and give a nod for the Mekedatu Project.

“The authorities concerned are yet to chalk out a distress formula (it provides guidelines on water supply to Tamil Nadu during times of rain deficit and drought in the Cauvery basin). We must build a Mekedatu balancing reservoir,” said Siddaramaiah.

He pointed out: “If we build the Mekedatu reservoir, we can provide water to Tamil Nadu during the difficult times. They are opposing it without any grounds or reasons.”

He also said: “We have already submitted a detailed project report to the water board. However, we are not given a nod for the project. We face water issues only during the rain deficit year, which results in difficult situations for both the states.”

He also said that they were going to pressure the Union government to issue a gazette notification on the 2013 Brijesh Kumar Tribunal Ward and provide environment and forest clearance for the Mahadayi project, for which the state government already issued a gazette notification.

Cauvery River dispute: SC to hear TN water plea for crops on 25 August

Calls to quash the petition

Siddaramaiah also said: “The Karnataka government will demand to quash the Tamil Nadu government’s petition over Cauvery water sharing.”

The Tamil Nadu government has approached the Supreme Court seeking direction to Karnataka to immediately release 24,000 cusecs of Cauvery River water to Billgundala village from 14 August to 31 August to meet the urgent irrigation requirement of its standing crop.

The apex court is scheduled to hear the Tamil Nadu government’s petition on 25 August. The plea is listed before a three-member division bench comprising Justices BR Gavai, Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha and Prashant Kumar Mishra.

Siddaramaiah said: “I have directed the legal team to argue effectively in the apex court when it comes for hearing on 25 August. We are arguing that it is not maintainable and quash the petition.”

According to the chief minister: “Karnataka has released 26.7 tmcft of water against the 86.36 tmcft of water to Tamil Nadu till 22 August. In June, 2.8 tmcft of water was released against the demand of 9.19 tmcft, and 8.74 tmcft of water against 31.24 tmcft in July.”

He added: “There is no rain in the catchment areas, mainly in the Harangi, Hemavathi, and Kabini rivers. Even Wayanad has not received normal rainfall, which resulted in poor inflow to Kabini. Hence, we couldn’t release the stipulated water to the neighbouring state.”

Related: Karnataka under fire for supplying Cauvery water to TN amidst protests

All parties express support for the government

After participating in the all-party meeting, the Opposition leaders reiterated that they were with the state government when it comes to water, border and language issues.

However, Opposition leaders including Bommai and Kumaraswamy objected to the Congress government’s decision to release water to Tamil Nadu and demanded that it work towards protecting the interests of farmers and people of the state.

Bommai told reporters: “The state government has failed to argue effectively before the CWMA. In such a situation, releasing 10,000 cusecs of water every day to the neighbouring state is a disaster.”

“We have clearly told the government that we are with them on the border, language and water issues. The government should make the apex court realise the ground reality in the state,” urged Bommai.

He further said: “The government has not chaired an Irrigation Consultative Committee (ICC) meeting. If the government had released water to our farmers, then, we would have come across such a situation.”

“What was the need to release water immediately after Tamil Nadu approached the apex court? They walked out of the CWMA, we should have argued strongly. We have given several suggestions to the government that cannot be disclosed,” JD(S) leader and former chief minister Kumaraswamy told reporters.

Meanwhile, farmers continued to protest against the state government for releasing the Cauvery River water to Tamil Nadu in the Mandya district.