CHENNAI:Accusing Karnataka government of wilfully not releasing Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu as per the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has sought urgent intervention by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
She requested him to advise Karnataka to release Tamil Nadu’s legitimate share of water to save samba crops in the delta districts.
“Against 94 tmc ft of water due to Tamil Nadu at Billigundulu, only 66.443 tmc ft has been released, leaving a huge shortfall of 27.557 tmc ft up to August 31,” she said in her letter dated September 4 to Modi. She also alleged that instead of releasing Tamil Nadu’s share, Karnataka had been using all the water as if it owned the Cauvery river.
“I request you to advise Karnataka to make good the shortfall of about 27.557 tmc ft. of water and also to ensure that Karnataka releases water in conformity with the final order of the Tribunal in the coming months,” she said. Jayalalithaa said the storage in Mettur Reservoir as on September 4 was only 50.552 tmc ft and the inflow continues to dwindle.
“Karnataka, which is the upper riparian state, is duty bound to ensure the stipulated monthly flows in 10 daily intervals during every water year, as per the final order of the Tribunal. The award has been notified by the Centre on February 19, 2013, giving it the status of a decree of the Supreme Court,” the CM said.
She added that it was Karnataka’s fault that Mettur reservoir could not be opened on the scheduled date of June 12 this year for the kuruvai crop in Cauvery delta.