Karnataka will seek to impress upon the Supreme Court the need to reduce the quantum of Cauvery water being released to Tamil Nadu.
The State will also approach the supervisory committee to modify the apex court order so that only 10,000 cusecs of water be released for six days. “It is difficult to implement the SC order of September 5 due to the hardships our farmers are facing,” sources in the Karnataka government said. Karnataka is currently releasing 15,000 cusecs of water for 10 days, as per the court order. Sources say about 5,000-6,000 cusecs of water already flows to Tamil Nadu naturally.
The State government has also assured farmers the Cauvery basin that it will release water for agriculture and drinking water needs.
Sources said the live storage in the Cauvery basin was 46 tmc ft against the capacity of 104 tmc ft. They said Tamil Nadu already has 37 tmc ft of water stored and its groundwater position is also very good. The sources said Karnataka requires as much as 78 tmc ft of water whereas Tamil Nadu has sought a minimum of 1 tmc ft of water every day. The officials said Tamil Nadu has been given three days to make its claim while Karnataka can make a counter claim with the supervisory committee. Once both States submit their claims, the panel will be asked to undertake a fact-finding mission to understand the actual situation.