Karnataka defers Cauvery water release to Tamil Nadu

Karnataka State Cabinet has decided to defer release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu and decided to call state legislature tomorrow to take a call on the issue.

After the Cabinet meeting late last night, Chief Minister informed this to the media persons. Supreme Court had directed the state to release 6000 Cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu per day from yesterday till September 27th. This was the third time that the Apex court had directed the state to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.

In a press statement issued after the all party meeting, Chief Minister has noted that Supreme Court order is not implementable as state reservoirs have only 28 TMC water which is essential to meet drinking water needs of the state till coming June.

Chief Minister will meet the Governor in the morning today to request him to convene the legislature and leave for New Delhi to meet the Union Ministers from the state. Both BJP and JD(S) have welcomed the announcement



of Chief Minister to defer release of Cauvery water till legislative Assembly dwells on the issue. 

Meanwhile, in Tamil Nadu, delta farmers are urging Karnataka to release 6000 cusecs of water daily as per the orders of Supreme Court. The farmers from delta region of Thanjavur Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur have started preliminary samba crop cultivation works in anticipation of Cauvery water from Mettur Dam.

Water released from Mettur dam is expected to reach Kallanai Grand Anaicut in Thanjavur district tomorrow. Then this water will be diverted from Saturday morning for delta irrigation in Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam. The farmers are keeping their fingers crossed as they need continuous supply of water till January next year to save their samba crops.Water storage of 50 tmc in Mettur dam is expected to last only for a month. Delta farmers hope that north east monsoon will arrive by the third week of next month saving the samba crops.