The Karnataka government, facing an acute water scarcity situation, has announced its intention to file review petitions before both the Supreme Court and the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) regarding the release of 3,000 cubic feet per second (cusecs) of water to Tamil Nadu. This decision comes after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah convened a meeting with retired Supreme Court judges and former Advocate Generals of the state during the Karnataka bandh on Friday, seeking their counsel on the matter.
The CWMA had recently endorsed the directive of its assisting body, the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC), which instructed Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu until October 15. However, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah pointed out the dire situation in Karnataka, emphasizing that the state simply does not have enough water to fulfill this demand.
"We do not have water and therefore cannot release water," stated Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, echoing the sentiments expressed by legal luminaries during the meeting.
The legal experts advised the government to establish an expert advisory committee dedicated to monitoring the state's irrigation projects and collecting data on water availability. This committee's role would be to provide continuous advice to the government and the legal team regarding inter-state water disputes like the Cauvery issue.
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, Home Minister G Parameshwara, Law Minister H K Patil, and Agriculture Minister N Cheluvarayaswamy were among the attendees of this critical meeting.
The Cauvery water dispute has escalated due to a severe deficiency in rainfall during the south-west monsoon in the Cauvery basin. With Karnataka unable to release the requested 3,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu, concerns are mounting over the impact on standing crops that require 79 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) of water. Additionally, meeting the drinking water needs of Bengaluru city throughout the summer poses another significant challenge. The state's requirement for drinking water until June 2024 is approximately 33 TMC.
It is worth noting that Tamil Nadu had initially demanded the release of 12,500 cusecs of water, but Karnataka's leaders have highlighted that the recent rainfall in August and September was the lowest in 125 years.
In addition to addressing the immediate dispute, legal experts also advised the government to strongly advocate for the construction of the proposed Mekedatu project, a balancing reservoir across the Cauvery in Kanakapura. The project aims to store excess water during heavy rainfall, which would otherwise go to waste, and provide drinking water for Bengaluru and Kolar while generating power. It is expected to have minimal impact on Tamil Nadu's water supply.
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