Tamil Nadu, Karnataka disagree with Cauvery panel's ruling

Chennai: The Cauvery Supervisory Committee on Monday directed Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu for 10 days beginning Wednesday, a ruling that made the two states unhappy. Both states are likely to plead their case in the Supreme Court when the issue comes up for hearing on Tuesday.

While Karnataka said it was in a position not to release any water, Tamil Nadu said 3,000 cusecs of water would not be enough for carrying out cultivation of crops in Cauvery Delta region. While presenting Tamil Nadu’s case, Chief Secretary P Rama Mohana Rao demanded that Karnataka release 64.75 tmcft of water to the state as pending on September 5, which was objected to by Karnataka Chief Secretary Arvind Jadhav.

Refusing to give in to the demands of both states, Chairman of the CSC and Union Water Resources Secretary Shashi Shekhar ruled that Karnataka should release 3,000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu for 10 days beginning September 21 since the Supreme Court order of releasing 12,000 cusecs of water daily ends on September 20.

“They (Tamil Nadu and Karnataka) have not agreed (to my ruling). The two states are free to challenge this order in the Supreme Court when it takes up the matter tomorrow or they can agree with the order before the court,” Mr Shekhar told reporters after the meeting.

Senior officials of the Union Water Resources Ministry said the CSC took into consideration the interest of all the participating states, the inflow position, rainfall picture, daily inflow of water in the reservoirs of Karnataka, the drinking water needs of Karnataka and irrigation needs of the Samba crop in Tamil Nadu, while giving the ruling.

Both Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are likely to seek modifications to the CSC order on Tuesday when the case comes up for hearing.

While Tamil Nadu is expected to seek more water the quantum allotted by the CSC, Karnataka would ask for striking down of the order as was decided at a meeting of the State Cabinet in Bengaluru late on Monday evening.
The CSC also decided to meet frequently to access the situation and needs in the future.

“The next meeting will be held at some time in October. The committee will meet once in every month from February 2017 onwards,” an official release from the Ministry said.

The CSC chairman said he took the decision keeping in mind various factors such as the need for drinking and irrigation water in Karnataka and summer crop in Tamil Nadu.

The committee also agreed to put in place a protocol for the proposed real time transmission of river water flow data among the committee secretariat (in Delhi), Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry.

The Central Water Commission is working on devices to be placed at various points to provide real time data. Lack of credible data makes it difficult for the various parties to arrive at a consensus.