Tamil Nadu: CM Stalin Writes To PM Modi Asking Him To Direct Congress Govt In Karnataka To Release Cauvery Water

Chief Minister MK Stalin today (4 August) wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to instruct the Congress government in Karnataka to immediately release Cauvery water to the state to address the shortfall.

This letter comes a fortnight after his earlier letter to Union Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

He said that water released by Karnataka to the Mettur dam is crucial for cultivation of the Kuruvai crop and the sowing of the subsequent Samba crop as Tamil Nadu receives very little rainfall from the South West monsoon.

Further, he said that Karnataka was not releasing water as per the monthly schedule fixed by the Supreme Court and so the state is facing a shortfall of 28.8 TMC.

"In this regard, the Hon'ble Supreme Court has fixed the share of water to be delivered to Tamil Nadu at Billigundulu, as per the monthly schedule.

"But unfortunately, Karnataka is not honoring the above order in letter and spirit and is also not adhering to the directions of Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA).

"In the current 2023-2024 water year, Karnataka has released only 11.6 TMC of water, as against 40.4 TMC due at Billigundulu from 1st June to 31st July, 2023. Such a huge shortfall of 28.8 TMC has been thrust on Tamil Nadu, even while Karnataka has a gross storage of 91 TMC in its four major reservoirs, against their full storage capacity of 114.6 TMC."

Regarding the amount of water available in the Mettur dam, he wrote that it would not be sufficient.

"But the storage position in the Mettur Reservoir of Tamil Nadu, the lifeline of Cauvery delta, has only 26.6 TMC as on 2nd August, 2023. After provisioning for drinking water and other essential needs, the available water can support the standing Kuruvai crop for only 15 days more, whereas it needs water for another 45 days for maturity and optimum yield."

About the water released by Karnataka in July, he wrote, "Considering this precarious situation, we had taken up the issue with the Hon'ble Union Minister for Jal Shakti on 5th July 2023 and 19th July 2023, urging him to advise Karnataka to adhere to the schedule of delivery fixed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court and to instruct the CWMA to monitor the same.

"However, Karnataka has not relented and except for the runoff from the fully filled Kabini reservoir, no water has been released from its major reservoirs which are 80% full and continue to receive good inflows."

Referring to the recent ban on export of non-basmati rice, he wrote, "The Cauvery delta is the rice bowl of Tamil Nadu and it meets the paddy requirement of the State to a very large extent.

"In the current scenario wherein the Union Government has already banned the export of non-basmati rice due to emerging concerns of rice shortage, it is all the more important that the current Kuruvai paddy crop in Cauvery delta and the livelihood of our farmers are saved by your urgent intervention.

"I, therefore, urge you to advise Karnataka to immediately release the water due to us as per the schedule and to clear the shortfall in June and July. I also request you to instruct the Ministry of Jal Shakthi to take appropriate action for ensuring the same."

Reacting to the letter, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president K Annamalai said, "This is the reality of I.N.D.I.A Alliance. They come to our Hon PM Thiru @narendramodi avl complaining about their alliance partners. The grim scenario faced by the farmers today has to do much with the Corrupt DMK government’s pledging of the interests of the people of TN for their political gains."

He had earlier criticised Chief Minister Stalin for not raising the issue of Cauvery water and the Mekedatu project during his visit to Bangalore for the meeting of opposition parties.