From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
New Delhi, Sep 21: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday said the Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has ‘postively responded’ to Karnataka’s concerns over the Cauvery water issue and hoped for a favourable decision from the Supreme Court.
The Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who is also heading the State’s Water Resources Department, informed the media that they have met Shekhawat in Delhi and also the State’s MPs to explain the situation in Karnataka due to failure of monsoon and the inability to release water to Tamil Nadu as directed by the Cauvery Water Management Authority.
“We have given all the details of the availability of water in the Cauvery basin reservoirs and the needs of Karnataka to ensure drinking water supplies to Bengaluru and other areas besides protecting the interests of the State’s farmers,’’ they said addressing a joint press conference.
The Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister pointed out that Karnataka has already moved the Supreme Court pleading the State’s inability to adhere to the Cauvery Authority’s direction for releasing 5,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu daily for 15 days.
They said the Supreme Court is expected to take up the State’s plea and the government is hopeful that the CWMA order will be stayed.
“We are awaiting the Supreme Court’s decision,’’ they said pointing out that the government will decide its future course of action after the apex court’s orders.
Siddaramaiah said the State Government has sought an appointment to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and pointed out that the State will take a delegation to apprise the situation if an appointment is given.
They explained that Karnataka needs 106 tmcft of water while the storage in KRS and other three reservoirs is barely 41 tmcft. The Cauvery basin areas have received the lowest rainfall in the last 123 years during the months of August and September.
“We have no water for releasing to Tamil Nadu,’’ he said and pointed out that the State’s legal team has already highlighted the situation with facts and figures.
“This year is a distress year and the distress situation must be apportioned equitably instead of putting Karnataka, its people and farmers in trouble,’’ he added.
Law Minister H K Patil, Agriculture Minister N Cheluvarayaswamy, State Government’s Delhi Representative T B Jayachandra, MPs D K Suresh and Prakash Hukkeri were present.