Mandya: The Cauvery water dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu (TN) has intensified following Cauvery Water Regulation Committee’s (CWRC) latest recommendation that Karnataka must release 12,000 cusecs of water daily to TN over the next 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 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.Terming the recommendation a “death warrant” for Karnataka farmers, they demanded its immediate rollback and urged chief minister D K Shivakuma not to release water to TN 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.Ryots have warned that releasing such a large quantity of water would severely affect agriculture and drinking water requirements in the state.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 the Cauvery basin, particularly in Mandya district.Karnataka has maintained that it has complied with the directives of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and 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 stipulated quantity.With the Kabini reservoir reaching full capacity, about 7.5 TMC of water was also released to TN during this month.Karnataka is now expected to argue before CWMA that the prevailing conditions in Cauvery basin do not permit further release. 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 only if the basin receives sufficient rain.Maintain law & order in district: CMChief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday directed officials to ensure that law and order is maintained in Mandya district in connection with the Cauvery water issue and that no untoward incidents occur.Interacting with Mandya officials, Shivakumar told the deputy commissioner and superintendent of police that the decision on releasing Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu will be made by govt. However, maintaining peace and public order in the district was the responsibility of the district administration and police, he said.He stressed that water could not be stored indefinitely and would have to be released if reservoirs, including Kabini, reached full capacity.
