BENGALURU: The Karnataka government on Wednesday moved the Supreme Court expressing its inability to release 5,000 cusecs of water per day to Tamil Nadu from the Cauvery reservoirs in the state.
It has also urged the centre’s intervention in the matter and has sought for immediate intervention of the union government to construct the Mekedatu balancing reservoir.
On late Tuesday evening, through the night in New Delhi, CM Siddaramaiah and deputy chief minister, who is also the water resources minister, D K Shivakumar made calls to the union Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekwat and law and parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi.
In fact, the phone calls were later followed up with an in-person meeting of Shivakumar with Shekawat and Joshi seeking time for an all party delegation meeting from Karnataka.
Later, on Tuesday morning, an all party meeting from the state was chaired by CM Siddaramaiah and DCM Shivakumar along with Joshi and other union ministers Rajeev Chandrasekar, Bhagwant Khuba, Shobha Karandlaje and A Narayanswamy.
At the meeting, while differences of opinions are said to have arisen over alleged “delay” in calling for the meeting post releasing a portion of water to TN, the state MPs expressed their solidarity with the Karnataka government to fight it out legally and in the Parliament.
Briefing the media after the meeting, CM Siddaramaiah said: “We have today filed an application in the SC citing the lack of availability of water from the four rivers of Cauvery basin and inability to release 5,000 cusecs as prescribed by the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA).”
Siddaramaiah also added that Karnataka has placed before the SC appointed authorities a strong petition on the reasons why Karnataka cannot release the ordered amount of water.
“From all the four rivers under the Cauvery basin we have a total of 50 to 51 TMC water. Now, for drinking water requirements till June 2024 we need 33 TMC of water and another 70 TMC to save our standing crops, apart from 3 TMC of water for industrial purposes. With such being the case, we can ill afford to release any water to TN,” said the CM, adding at the present prescribed rate of water release, Karnataka will have to give 108 TMC of water and has instead released till date 39.6 TMC only.
He then went on to add that the government is also seeking the immediate intervention of the center in ensuring clearances of the Mekedatu balancing reservoir that has been vehemently opposed by neighboring TN.
“With no distress formula for sharing water between the riparian states it is best suited for all parties involved to have the Mekedatu reservoir constructed to store excess water and use it during the time of distress,” said Siddaramaiah.
Questioned over whether the government has been releasing water as of date, the CM admitted that Karnataka has released “some amount of water” but not to the tune of 5,000 cusecs per day.
“We have to abide by the SC orders to some extent and cannot be seen as violating its order,” he said.
Sources in the government suggest the state has been releasing 3,500 cusecs per day at present.
Later, DCM Shivakumar said the Jal Shakti minister has accorded Karnataka delegation a time on Thursday morning at 10 am to discuss the crisis and accept their memorandum.
PMO has not given a positive response for meeting Karnataka delegation: CM Siddaramaiah
Chief minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday claimed that prime minister Narendra Modi has not given any time to Karnataka delegation to discuss the Cauvery river dispute.
“We have already sought time from the PMO but its response appears to hint at not being able to accord time for the delegation. While we will meet the Jal Shakti minister, it is only the PM who has the authority to summon both State government heads to discuss the issue. His intervention is of utmost priority. We will keep trying,” he said.
It has also urged the centre’s intervention in the matter and has sought for immediate intervention of the union government to construct the Mekedatu balancing reservoir.
On late Tuesday evening, through the night in New Delhi, CM Siddaramaiah and deputy chief minister, who is also the water resources minister, D K Shivakumar made calls to the union Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekwat and law and parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi.
In fact, the phone calls were later followed up with an in-person meeting of Shivakumar with Shekawat and Joshi seeking time for an all party delegation meeting from Karnataka.
Later, on Tuesday morning, an all party meeting from the state was chaired by CM Siddaramaiah and DCM Shivakumar along with Joshi and other union ministers Rajeev Chandrasekar, Bhagwant Khuba, Shobha Karandlaje and A Narayanswamy.
At the meeting, while differences of opinions are said to have arisen over alleged “delay” in calling for the meeting post releasing a portion of water to TN, the state MPs expressed their solidarity with the Karnataka government to fight it out legally and in the Parliament.
Briefing the media after the meeting, CM Siddaramaiah said: “We have today filed an application in the SC citing the lack of availability of water from the four rivers of Cauvery basin and inability to release 5,000 cusecs as prescribed by the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA).”
Siddaramaiah also added that Karnataka has placed before the SC appointed authorities a strong petition on the reasons why Karnataka cannot release the ordered amount of water.
“From all the four rivers under the Cauvery basin we have a total of 50 to 51 TMC water. Now, for drinking water requirements till June 2024 we need 33 TMC of water and another 70 TMC to save our standing crops, apart from 3 TMC of water for industrial purposes. With such being the case, we can ill afford to release any water to TN,” said the CM, adding at the present prescribed rate of water release, Karnataka will have to give 108 TMC of water and has instead released till date 39.6 TMC only.
He then went on to add that the government is also seeking the immediate intervention of the center in ensuring clearances of the Mekedatu balancing reservoir that has been vehemently opposed by neighboring TN.
“With no distress formula for sharing water between the riparian states it is best suited for all parties involved to have the Mekedatu reservoir constructed to store excess water and use it during the time of distress,” said Siddaramaiah.
Questioned over whether the government has been releasing water as of date, the CM admitted that Karnataka has released “some amount of water” but not to the tune of 5,000 cusecs per day.
“We have to abide by the SC orders to some extent and cannot be seen as violating its order,” he said.
Sources in the government suggest the state has been releasing 3,500 cusecs per day at present.
Later, DCM Shivakumar said the Jal Shakti minister has accorded Karnataka delegation a time on Thursday morning at 10 am to discuss the crisis and accept their memorandum.
PMO has not given a positive response for meeting Karnataka delegation: CM Siddaramaiah
Chief minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday claimed that prime minister Narendra Modi has not given any time to Karnataka delegation to discuss the Cauvery river dispute.
“We have already sought time from the PMO but its response appears to hint at not being able to accord time for the delegation. While we will meet the Jal Shakti minister, it is only the PM who has the authority to summon both State government heads to discuss the issue. His intervention is of utmost priority. We will keep trying,” he said.
