From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Aug 30: When all the major reservoirs in Tamil Nadu have ‘’adequate’’ water, what is the justification for the neighbouring State Government to demand Karnataka to release of water from the Cauvery river?

This was the poser to the AIADMK Government headed by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa by Karnataka’s Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra in Bengaluru on Monday.

The minister contended that it was not good on the part of the neighbouring State Government to seek water from Karnataka, when the State is facing severe distress owing to deficit south-west monsoon.

“Tamil Nadu need not panic. It can release water to the standing crops of its farmers as the State’s reservoirs have adequate quantity of water," he argued.

T B Jayachandra

Moreover, he explained that Tamil Nadu will get north-east monsoon from next month onwards and there was no need to create an impression that Karnataka was acting against the interests of Tamil Nadu’s farmers.

As the south-west monsoon would be receding next month in Karnataka, the Minister ruled out releasing water to Tamil Nadu.

Karnataka’s priority was to ensure adequate storage of water for catering to the drinking water requirements in urban centres of Cauvery basin areas, the Minister said.

Asked about sharing distress formula, Jayachandra said: ``No court in the country has explained distress formula. The State Government would seek explanation from the Supreme Court about sharing “distress formula”. Karnataka would file an affidavit in the Apex Court explaining its inability to release water to Tamil Nadu owing to deficit rainfall and poor storage of water in reservoirs in the Cauvery basin.’’

“We will face another year of drought if the State fails to get south-west monsoon next month” he said.

Jayachandra also chaired a meeting Cabinet sub-committee on alleged violation of rules by Nandi Infrastructure Corridors Enterprises (NICE) which has developed Bangalore-Mysore Corridors and said the panel would submit a detailed report by third week of September.

The committee held 20 meetings so far and studied various court rulings of both Karnataka high court and Supreme Court.