On July 31, Karnataka’s Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar convened a meeting to assess the status of Cauvery water in the state.
This gathering was prompted by a directive from the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA), which instructed Karnataka to release water to Tamil Nadu as per the recommendations of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC).
Key Decisions on Water Release
During the discussion, Shivakumar remarked that a decision regarding the Cauvery water dispute has been reached. The CWRC has mandated Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of water over the next 15 days. He noted that such directives have been issued for many years and emphasized that numerous decisions have been made during challenging times. He expressed a desire to elaborate on various orders issued in years like 2016, 2017, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026.
Impact of Recent Rainfall
The Chief Minister highlighted that Karnataka has experienced substantial rainfall over the past three years, enabling the state to fulfill its commitments regarding water distribution. He stated, “We have been fortunate with good rainfall in the last three years, especially last year, which saw record levels of precipitation.” He mentioned participating in the Cauvery worship at the Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) dam alongside senior leaders, including former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Benefits of Rainfall for Agriculture
Shivakumar pointed out that the ample rainfall has benefited both the populace and agriculture, resulting in an excess of water being released to Tamil Nadu. He noted, “People were pleased with the good rainfall, which also aided farming. Instead of releasing around 177 TMC of water, approximately 400 TMC flowed towards Tamil Nadu. We had no choice but to release that water due to the current circumstances. Tamil Nadu was also satisfied, and a significant amount of water ended up in the sea.”