Karnataka to SC: Alter Cauvery order
The Karnataka government on Thursday filed a review petition before the Supreme Court seeking a stay on its September 28 order directing it to release 9,000 cusecs of Cauvery water everyday to Tamil Nadu, until October 15.
Following the court order, the state has been releasing water to TN, even as farmers in the state protested.
In the petition, the government suggested that about 38 tmc feet of water can be released to TN between October 1, 2012, and January 31, 2013, as an amicable solution to the issue of sharing water in this distress year.
Karnataka’s needs are prejudicially affected, the petition said. The State needs about 140 tmc feet water for irrigation and drinking water supply. “Water storage as on October 2 is 67 tmc feet and expected inflow is 40 tmc feet, far below the future requirement of 140 tmc feet.”
Quoting Karnataka Chief Secretary’s letter on September 25 to the Cauvery River Authority Secretary, the petition said that when the State agreed on September 10 to release 10,000 cusecs everyday to TN for 10 days, the inflow into its reservoirs was 32,225 cusecs per day. Later, it dwindled to 8,761 cusecs and then to 5,157 cusecs, from September 21 to 25.
“The assessment of the inflows and requirements at the end of September is available. The CRA, which met on September 19 had a truncated picture before it,” the petition said adding the data shows that the requirement of Tamil Nadu can be met without continuing the release of 9,000 cusecs per day.
In 123 days between October 1 and January 31, which is the cropping period for samba in TN, the requirement of water is 123 tmc feet. Water that should be available in Tamil Nadu during the period is 120 tmc feet, the petition said.