Tamil Nadu: CM Stalin Writes To Centre Asking It To Direct Congress Govt In Karnataka To Release Cauvery Water

Chief Minister MK Stalin today (20 July) wrote a letter to Union Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat asking him to personally intervene and instruct the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) to issue directions to the Karnataka government to release Cauvery water to the state.

He said that the water from the river is essential to save the kuruvai crop of the Cauvery delta.

Regarding the extent of deficit, he wrote, "To facilitate the cultivation of Kuruvai crop on time, the Mettur reservoir was opened this year on 12th June. This was done considering the carryover storage and the flows to be realized at Billigundulu, as per the monthly schedule fixed based on the Judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court dated 16th February 2018.

"However, the flows received at Billigundulu, from 1st June to 17th July, is 3.78 TMC only, as against the prescribed quantum of 26.32 TMC for this period. This leaves a huge shortfall of 22.54 TMC. Even this meager flow of 3.78 TMC realized at Billigundulu is from the flows from the uncontrolled intermediate catchment areas below the KRS and Kabini reservoirs up to Billigundulu.

Further, he wrote, "Though the onset of South West monsoon was delayed, it has picked up pace in July. However, Karnataka has not released any water to us from the two scheduled reservoirs. As a result, the storage in Mettur reservoir is dwindling fast and the current storage can sustain irrigation only for about 20 days.

"Since South West monsoon rainfall in Tamil Nadu is less, the Kuruvai crop depends only on flows from Mettur reservoir, which in turn depends on releases from Karnataka.

"Although 12,000 cusecs of water was released from Mettur initially, as needed per day for the Kuruvai crop, it has been brought down to 10,000 cusecs now. Thus, we have been taking all efforts to manage the crisis with judicious water management. But the demand - supply gap is very significant and it can be met only by releases from Karnataka."

Water Resources minister Duraimurugan had met Shekhwat in Delhi earlier this month and the ministry's secretary had written a letter to the CWMA asking it to direct Karnataka to release the water as mandated.

Referring to these, Chief Minister Stalin wrote, "Our Hon'ble Minister for Water Resources had sought your intervention on this vital issue during his meeting with you on 05.07.2023 and requested you to instruct Karnataka to make good the shortfall.

"We had also taken up this issue already with the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee in its meetings as well as with the Cauvery Water Management Authority, vide our letter dated 03.07.2023.

"The Authority, in its letter dated 04.07.2023, advised Karnataka to ensure the flows at Billigundulu as per the Final Award of the CWDT as modified by the Hon'ble Supreme Court. Even after the Authority's above mentioned intervention, Karnataka has not made any effort to adhere to the monthly schedule prescribed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court."

"In this critical scenario, the standing Kuruvai crop can be saved only if Karnataka releases water immediately. I, therefore, urge your personal and immediate intervention on this issue and request you to direct the CWMA to issue directions to Karnataka to abide by the monthly schedule prescribed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court and also make good the shortfall."

The letter comes days after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticised Chief Minister Stalin for not raising the issue of Cauvery water shortage and the state's objection to the Mekedatu project during his visit to Karnataka for the meeting of opposition parties.

Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar, who according to BJP state president K Annamalai has a vested interest in the Mekedatu project, welcomed Chief Minister Stalin on his arrival in Bangalore.

The BJP had previously criticised the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government and said that it was going soft on the issue now that its ally Congress was in power in the neighbouring state.

Before leaving for Bangalore, Chief Minister Stalin said that his party would not change the stance taken by the late party supremo M Karunanidhi and this meeting is not about Cauvery water or the Mekedatu project but about saving India from the BJP.

Also Read: DK Shivakumar Welcomes CM Stalin In Bangalore; TN BJP Had Warned Of Protests If He Returns Without Opposing Mekedatu Project