Expressing inability to release the stipulated quantity of 134 tmc ft of water to Tamil Nadu between June-September this year, the Karnataka government has decided to seek a review on the quantum of water to be released to lower riparian states according to the final award of the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal.
Making a suo motu statement in the Assembly, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the decision was taken at an all-party floor leaders’ meeting chaired by him on Thursday.
Informing the Assembly that the state would request the Cauvery Supervisory Committee, scheduled to meet on June 12, to reconsider the quantum of water to be released in the next four months, as there was insufficient storage in the state’s reservoirs, Siddaramaiah said the state would a seek a reduction to 97.82 tmc ft.
The all-party meet had also reviewed the storage status in the state’s reservoirs and come to the conclusion that the state was not in a position to meet Tamil Nadu’s demand.
Stating that there was a provision for a relook into the quantum of water to be released to Tamil Nadu in the final award itself every five years, the Chief Minister said that during past five years, not even once had 134 tmc ft of water flowed into Karnataka’s reservoirs.