Cauvery panel tells Karnataka, release 5k cusecs to TN

The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) has directed the Karnataka government to release 5,000 cusecs of water per day to Tamil Nadu till September 28. This decision mirrored a similar order issued by the authority on August 28, to which the state government had submitted a compliance report.The CWRC convened a meeting on Tuesday, attended by officials from both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. After considering inputs from both parties and evaluating the on-ground circumstances, the committee issued a renewed mandate for Karnataka to allocate additional water to Tamil Nadu.
Responding to the CWRC decision, Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar, on Tuesday said the state had already released the maximum available water to Tamil Nadu and said the state needs to preserve water for drinking purposes. “Whatever water is there, we have released. We have to store it for drinking water. Without storing the water for drinking, it will be very difficult,” he said.DK Shivkumar said that the state is in no position to release Cauvery river water to neighbouring Tamil Nadu, as it doesn't have enough water storage, due to lack of adequate rainfall in the river basin. "I'm making it clear that we don't have water. They (CWRC) have given the order (recommendation), tomorrow( Wednesday) the matter is going before the higher committee -- Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA), where our Secretary will be there, he is a member of it. The Chief Minister (Siddaramaiah) and I discussed the matter in the morning and we have told our officials that we will not be able to release water," Mr Shivakumar said. 

(Dr Mysi Patil, State Correspondent)