The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee has asked Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu by October 31, sources said on Wednesday.
The decision was taken on Tuesday at a meeting where the CWRC asked Karnataka to ensure the release of water from its reservoirs in Biligundlu, they said. The order will be effective from October 16 till October 31. Tamil Nadu had requested for release of 16,000 cusecs of water.
The CWRC had in September ordered Karnataka to ensure the release of 5,000 cusecs of Cauvery water from September 28 to October 15.
However, Karnataka has opposed the move and it has filed a review petition against the order both in the Supreme Court and with the Cauvery Water Management Authority. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said the state government is committed to protecting the interests of its farmers, irrespective of regulatory body order. Shivakumar said implementing the Mekedatu balancing reservoir project was the top priority of his government.
“They (CWRC) have taken account of water level at our dams and theirs (Tamil Nadu) and have recommended to continue 3,000 cusecs. Inflow at our dams is about 10,000 cusecs today. Whatever the order may be, we will do all that is needed to protect the interests of our farmers, we are committed to it," Shivakumar said.
JD(S) leader and former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy also opposed the move. “Despite all the reservoirs being empty due to lack of rain, another big shock to the state is that the CWRC has again ordered to release 3,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu daily for 15 days. We have a doubt that the authority (Cauvery Water Management Authority- CWMA) and Regulatory Committee have been formed to give such water shocks to Karnataka," Kumaraswamy said in a statement.