Karnataka to Challenge CWRC Order on Cauvery Water Release

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced plans to appeal the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee's directive for the state to release one tmcft of water daily to Tamil Nadu. Despite a 28% deficit in rainfall, an all-party meeting will be convened to decide the state's next actions.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced on Friday that the state will appeal against the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee's (CWRC) directive to release one tmcft of Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu daily until the end of this month.

During a meeting with Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, other ministers from the Cauvery river basin area, and officials, Siddaramaiah also mentioned that an all-party meeting is scheduled for July 14 to decide the state's next steps.

He highlighted a 28% deficit in rainfall despite forecasts for normal rain and emphasized that the CWRC was informed about this. He argued that no decision should have been taken until the end of July, yet the CWRC insisted on the water release starting July 12. Today's meeting concluded that an appeal should be filed against the order before the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA).

Siddaramaiah stated that all parties in Karnataka stand united on the water issue, reiterating that an all-party meeting would be held on July 14. Union Ministers, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Members from the state, and MLAs from the Cauvery river basin region will be invited to the meeting. The government plans to make its decision with consensus.

Currently, 5000 cusecs of water are being released to Tamil Nadu from Biligundlu, equivalent to the inflow of the Kabini dam. He noted that only 60 tmcft of water is available in all the Cauvery basin reservoirs and stressed the necessity to reserve water for agricultural activities, considering the deficit rainfall.

(With inputs from agencies.)