Bengaluru, 12 August

Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Wednesday said the Karnataka would find it difficult to release 12,000 cusecs (around 15TMC ft) of Cauvery water daily to Tamil Nadu as directed by the CWMA.

The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee, which met in New Delhi on Tuesday, directed Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu for 15 days from 12 August. The Cauvery Water Management Authority subsequently upheld the decision.

Reddy said the government would decide its future course of action based on the outcome of a Supreme Court hearing. The court was scheduled to take it up on Thursday, but the matter has been deferred to 17 August as Justice Vikram Nath, who was to hear the matter, has fallen ill. 

The Tamil Nadu government moved the Supreme Court on 3 August, seeking implementation of the CWMA's 30 July decision directing the release of 3,500 cusecs of water for 15 days, saying the Bengaluru had failed to comply with even that direction. But after Karnataka began receiving rainfall in the catchment areas, it released water, Reddy said. 

"We have about 76 TMC of water (in our dams), out of which we will need 36 TMC a year for drinking water. There will also be evaporation, and we will have to release water to rivers and for crops. Asking Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs for 15 days is inappropriate," he said.

Reddy said the earlier direction to release 3,500 cusecs a day was somewhat acceptable, but the latest order to release 12,000 cusecs daily for 15 days, amounting to about 16 TMC, was "too costly" for Karnataka.   

“Our water table is too low here. Even if we go 800-1,000 feet, we don't get water, while they get water at much higher levels," Reddy added.

Meanwhile, protests broke out across Mysuru and Mandya districts on Wednesday over the CWMC’s order. Protesters even blocked the Benglauru-Mysuru Highway. 

The protesters are accentuated by the fact that Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has told farmers in Karnataka not sow crops, while Tamil Nadu has been asking for water for farmers on the Cauvery delta. 

In Mysuru, members of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha picketed the office of Command Area Development Authority, prompting heated arguments between police and protesting farmers.