Cauvery water dispute: Tamil Nadu passes resolution seeking Union government direction to Karnataka

This has not been realised, says Tamil Nadu, claiming that the neighbouring state stopped releasing water in September.

Tamil Nadu added that it has not received the required amount of water even before it, despite the Water Resources Minister Durai Murugan meeting the Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat twice in the past few months.

File photo of the Cauvery river. (Wikimedia Commons)

Accusing Karnataka of creating an artificial crisis and not providing the required amount of water this year, Stalin said, “We have realised only 46.1 thousand million cubic feet of water in Biligundlu from 1 June to 3 October, 2023.”

Explaining the steps taken by the DMK government, he said, “Whether in opposition or in the government, safeguarding the rights of Cauvery waters will be the priority of the DMK.”

“Since the dam’s storage was 69.7 tmcft on 1 June and keeping in mind the southwest monsoon, we decided to open Mettur dam on 12 June. Cauvery water began reaching even the tail-end areas for the cultivation of short-term crops. But we didn’t get our due,”

Stating that the state did not get its due share of Cauvery, Stalin said that the Tamil Nadu government has so far released 90.25 tmcft of water from the Mettur dam for cultivation from 1 June.

தமிழ்நாட்டின் விவசாயத்திற்கு அடித்தளமாக விளங்கும் காவிரி டெல்டா பாசன விவசாயிகளின் வாழ்வாதாரத்தைப் பாதுகாத்திட மாண்பமை உச்சநீதிமன்றத்தின் இறுதித் தீர்ப்பில் வரையறுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளபடி தமிழ்நாட்டிற்குத் தண்ணீரைத் திறந்துவிடுமாறு கர்நாடக அரசிற்கு உத்தரவிட ஒன்றிய அரசை ஒருமனதாக… pic.twitter.com/qzYiINdUzV

— CMOTamilNadu (@CMOTamilnadu) October 9, 2023

Meanwhile, Karnataka has already filed a petition before the CWMA, seeking a review of its latest order to release water to Tamil Nadu.

Also read: Sandalwood voices its concern and seeks justice for Karnataka

Other parties react

Durai Murugan asked political parties in Tamil Nadu to unite on the issue to send a message to the neighbouring state.

The resolution was passed after a fierce debate between Leader of Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami and the Treasury benches led by Stalin. The principal Opposition party, the AIADMK, supported the resolution.

Opposition leader Edappadi K Palaniswami recalled the various initiatives taken by the AIADMK regime on the interstate river dispute, and said adequate pressure should be exerted on the Centre over the matter.  He recalled his party had stalled Parliament for days over the issue a few years ago.

The BJP staged a walkout saying that the resolution was incomplete, and that it should include nationalisation of rivers.

“The Union government cannot be blamed for the mistake of the Karnataka government, which is ruled by the Congress,” BJP MLA Vanathi Srinivasan said.

Water woes: Karnataka to approach SC as CWMA upholds Cauvery release

(With PTI inputs)