Filed by Uday Kumar/ Cleared by AravindMandya: The Cauvery water dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu has intensified following Cauvery Water Regulation Committee’s (CWRC) recommendation that Karnataka release 12,000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu for 15 days.The recommendation has triggered strong opposition among farmers and pro-Kannada organisations in Mandya, with protesters blocking roads and staging demonstrations against the proposed release. Farmers have urged State govt to reject the recommendation and protect Karnataka’s interests, warning that releasing such a large quantity of water would severely affect agriculture and drinking water requirements in the State.Tamil Nadu has continued to press Karnataka for the release of its prescribed Cauvery water quota for June and July. Karnataka has maintained that it has complied with the directions of Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and has already released water beyond the quantity ordered on earlier occasions. At the CWMA meeting held on July 30, Karnataka was directed to release 4.5 TMC of water. Karnataka has contended that it released around 3 TMC more than the quantity stipulated by the authority. With Kabini reservoir reaching full capacity, about 7.5 TMC of water was also released to Tamil Nadu in August.Karnataka is now expected to argue before CWMA that the prevailing conditions in Cauvery basin do not permit further releases. Hemavathi and Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) reservoirs are yet to reach full capacity, while the available water is being carefully conserved to meet drinking water requirements. The State has maintained that additional releases could be considered if the basin receives sufficient rainfall.The latest CWRC recommendation has intensified concerns in Mandya. Farmers point out that releasing 12,000 cusecs a day for 15 days would consume a substantial quantity of water from KRS reservoir at a time when its storage remains far below full capacity. They have described the recommendation as a “death warrant” for farmers and demanded its immediate withdrawal.The protesters have appealed to chief minister DK Shivakumar not to release water to Tamil Nadu at the cost of Karnataka’s farmers and drinking water needs. They warned that the State could face serious water distress if large-scale releases continue without adequate inflows.With the crucial CWMA meeting scheduled in Delhi, all eyes are now on Karnataka’s stand and the authority’s decision on the CWRC recommendation. The issue is expected to have significant implications for farmers in Cauvery basin, particularly in Mandya district.eom
