Chennai: Making a strong case for release of 64.755 tmcft of Cauvery water from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu on Monday told the Cauvery Supervisory Committee that the delta region stares at “severe drought” that could also affect the food security of the state if the share of water due to it is not released immediately.
At a meeting of the CSC in New Delhi that remained inconclusive, the Tamil Nadu delegation led by Chief Secretary P. Rama Mohana Rao asked the committee headed by Union Water Resources Secretary to consider the plight of lakhs of farmers of the Cauvery delta region who are “desperately awaiting the release” of Tamil Nadu’s rightful share of Cauvery water to raise at least a single samba crop this season.
The delegation also demanded immediate formation of the Cauvery Management Board and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee as being stressed by Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa.
Pointing out that the quantity of water realized at Billigundulu is only 35.915 tmcft as on September 5 as against prescribed quantity of 100.670 tmcft, the delegation said Karnataka should make good the huge deficit of 64.755 tmcft.
Noting that the Cauvery Delta is solely dependent on releases from Mettur Dam for Kuruvai and Samba cultivation, the CS said non-release of water from the reservoir has resulted in severe distress to lakhs and lakhs of farmers and agricultural labourers and has also adversely affected food production in Tamil Nadu.
“Therefore, the Chairman, Supervisory Committee is requested to direct Karnataka to release the backlog of water as on today (12.9.2016) as per the Final Order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal forthwith, and ensure continued further release of water as per the Final Order of the Tribunal,” the TN delegation told the meeting.
Alleging that Karnataka has already thrown open its reservoirs for irrigation and has been continuously drawing maximum supply of water into canals, TN said 31 tmcft of water have been drawn by Karnataka from its four major reservoirs alone as on 8.9.2016.
