In an ongoing water dispute between the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister, DK Shivakumar, has conveyed the state’s inability to release water to its neighboring state, citing a lack of adequate water resources in the Cauvery basin. This statement follows the recent recommendations made by the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) instructing Karnataka to release 2,600 cusecs of water per day to Tamil Nadu for 15 days, starting from November 1.
DK Shivakumar, who oversees the water resource portfolio in Karnataka, explained that the current inflow of water into the Krishnaraja Sagar Dam is insufficient to meet the water release requirements for Tamil Nadu. He emphasized that the inflow at the KRS Dam is practically nonexistent, making it impossible for Karnataka to fulfill the recommended water release.
Shivakumar further noted that around 815 cusecs of water naturally flow from the KRS and Kabini dams to Tamil Nadu. However, he stressed that the available water resources in the Cauvery basin are limited, with only approximately 51 TMC (Thousand Million Cubic Feet) of water left. This water is primarily reserved for meeting the drinking water requirements of the state’s residents.
Tamil Nadu had initially demanded 13,000 cusecs of water per day, illustrating the significant difference between the requested amount and Karnataka’s capacity to provide.