BANGALORE: Karnataka has released 14.73 tmcft of water to Tamil Nadu from Cauvery reservoirs, Water Resources Minster M B Patil informed the Assembly on Monday.
However, the minister denied the opposition charge that the government has compromised the interests of farmers.
Patil said the state released 14.73 tmcft in the last two months, of which 5.98 tmcft was in June and 8.75 tmcft in July.
The state should have released 44 tmcft under the final award of the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal.
He said, “The discharge is being maintained in accordance with the distress sharing formula of the tribunal award and also in accordance with legal commitments in the backdrop of the fact that the is still pending in the Supreme Court. There is no question of compromising on the interests of our farmers. Water is being released from Kabini reservoir, which is full, at a rate of 25,328 cusecs. The outflow from KRS is only 446 cusecs.”
The minister assured that water from KRS would be released for irrigation from August first week after the repair and renovation of the tunnel section of the canal.
Raising the issue earlier, JD(S) member Cheluvarayaswamy expressed concern over the release of water to Tamil Nadu.
“Water is being released to Tamil Nadu while farmers in Mandya, Mysore and Hassan districts have been asked not to cultivate paddy and sugarcane. Water is not being released into the canals for our own farmers,” the minister said.
Former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy and Leader of the Opposition Jagadish Shettar also urged the government to release water into the canals.
KRS Water Level Crosses 100 ft
MANDYA: Water level in the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) reservoir crossed the 100 ft mark on Monday, 15 days late compared to last year.
On Monday, the water level at the reservoir was 101.10 ft with an inflow of 24,649 cusecs and outflow of 455 cusecs. On the corresponding day last year, the water level was 118.80 ft with an inflow of 24,387 cusecs and outflow of 4,068 cusecs.
The storage had reached the maximum level of 124.80 ft on July 31 last year. Cauvery Niraavari Nigama Limited (CNNL) officials said if rain continues in Kodagu district, the storage will reach the maximum level by August second week.