Karnataka: Dy CM D K Shivakumar Refuses To Release Water To Tamil Nadu, Says Not Enough Water In Cauvery Basin

Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister, DK Shivakumar, has conveyed the state's inability to comply with the directive from the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) to release 2,600 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu daily for a period of 15 days, commencing on November 1.

This decision is primarily grounded in the inadequacy of water resources within Karnataka's Cauvery basin, a portfolio managed by Shivakumar himself.

Shivakumar explained that the water inflow into the Krishnaraja Sagar Dam has effectively reached a state of near nonexistence, rendering it unfeasible to meet Tamil Nadu's water requisites.

At present, a meager 815 cusecs of water naturally traverse from KRS and Kabini dams to Tamil Nadu, highlighting the severity of the situation.

In the broader context, the Cauvery basin currently retains a meager 51 TMC (Thousand Million Cubic feet) of water, and this reserve is critically earmarked to address the pressing needs of drinking water supply.

In contrast, Tamil Nadu's request stands at a substantial 13,000 cusecs of water each day, a stark contrast to the limited water resources available in the region.