Bengaluru: After granting Karnataka relief twice in recent weeks, Cauvery Water Regulation Committee Tuesday directed the state to release 3,500 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu every day for the next 15 days, totalling nearly 4 tmcft.The directive comes at a time when Karnataka is grappling with drought-like conditions, a faltering southwest monsoon and rapidly depleting reservoir levels.Minister Ramalinga Reddy said Karnataka has just 8tmcft of live storage at Krishnarajasagara dam, lifeline for Bengaluru which requires 2.3tmcft of water a month. Karnataka said it was dissatisfied with the directive and would examine approaching Cauvery Water Management Authority for a review.Chairing the 139th meeting of CWRC in New Delhi, committee chairperson Vineet Gupta heard submissions from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu before directing Karnataka to maintain a flow of 3,500 cusecs at Biligundlu from 8am July 29.As per the monthly release schedule, Karnataka was required to release 9.19tmcft in June and 31.24tmc ft in July. However, officials from Karnataka’s water resources department said the state had released 3.5tmcft till July-end.During the meeting, Karnataka officials argued reservoir storage and inflows in the Cauvery basin had reached distress levels. The current storage was largely due to a brief spell of heavy rainfall in early July.“IMD forecast does not indicate any immediate revival of the southwest monsoon. We also explained that the present storage is barely sufficient to meet drinking water needs in the Cauvery basin if the dry spell continues,” a senior water resources department official said.Sources citing reservoir data claimed that releasing water for 15 days requires 4.5tmcft. However, the storage stands at 12tmcft, excluding 5tmcft of dead storage.Tamil Nadu maintained Karnataka must release water in accordance with the Supreme Court-backed Cauvery water-sharing formula.Minutes after the order, Karnataka’s water resources minister Ramalinga Reddy he would discuss the order with the CM and decide whether to challenge it before the Cauvery Water Management Authority. “We have to take into account the storage in Harangi and Hemavathi dams as well. Besides Bengaluru, Cauvery water is needed for Mandya, Malavalli, Ramanagara, Channapatna and other surrounding areas,” Reddy explained.Inset Box:K’TAKA: NO INFLOW, CAN’T RELEASE* Cumulative inflow (June 1 to July 27) into Cauvery basin is 65.8% below the 30-year average* Current storage barely enough to meet future domestic drinking water needsTN: RECEIVED ONLY 10% SO FAR* Net inflow into Karnataka reservoirs is 36.7tmcft against 30-year average of 99tmcft (37.05%)* Flow at Biligundlu (until July 26) was 10% of prescribed 35.4tmcft; TN not received its pro-rata share with a backlog of 9.4tmcft of as on July 26
