The Karnataka government will press for the introduction of distress sharing formula at the Cauvery River Water Supervisory Committee.
Speaking at Davangere on Sunday ,Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, “Distress and normal year formula will help Karnataka check availability of water in its dams in relation to predicted rainfall and take measures to release Cauvery water to TN.”
Siddaramaiah said there was no water available in the dams even to meet drinking water requirements, so it would not be possible to release water to TN.
“Our State has not done any contempt of court as claimed by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa,” he declared.
However, reservoirs in the Cauvery basin that touched rock bottom, causing acute scarcity of drinking water in Bangalore, Mysore and other places, have swelled following incessant rains in the catchment areas over the last few days. The rise in inflow into the reservoirs has put an end to apprehensions over the water scarcity for the time-being and has also created hope for farmers.
Inflow into Kabini reservoir has increased following inflow from the Wayanad region. The level in the reservoir, which had slipped to an all-time low following release of water to Tamil Nadu on Supreme Court directions, increased to 2,257 ft.
This has brought life back to normal in Kabini backwaters and parts of Nagarahole and Wayanad forests as water holes and stream have been in full flow for the last few days. Similarly, downpour in Kodagu has increased inflow to Krishna Raja Sagar reservoir.
To meet the drinking water needs of Bangalore and Mysore, the KRS had to get water released from Hemavathi. The Water Resources Department, under fire for releasing water to TN, stopped releasing water for irrigation from January.