Karnataka to release 8,000 cusecs of Cauvery water daily to Tamil Nadu
Amid the ongoing Cauvery water dispute, the Karnataka government has offered to release 8,000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu following an all-party meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Sunday.
This development comes after the recommendation of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) to release 1 thousand million cubic feet (tmc) of Cauvery water.
On Thursday, July 11, the CWMA held a meeting with both states and recommended releasing 1 tmc, or 11,500 cusecs, of water daily for 20 days starting Friday, July 12.
Acting on the recommendation, Shivakumar said that the Karnataka government has decided to release 8,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu. He highlighted that the inflow to dams had decreased by 30 percent.
Outlining the decisions taken at the meeting, Chief Minister Siddarmaiah said, “Today an all-party meeting took place in which Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, BJP leaders, and Mysuru basin leaders were present. They opined that we should not release water and appealed before the CWMA. Mohan Katarki, a member of the legal team, suggested that, considering the present situation, we can release 8,000 cusecs of water, and if rain comes, we will increase the number. This decision was taken in the meeting.”