Bangalore: Retracting a statement that it has suspended release of Cauvery water to
Tamil Nadu, Karnataka on November 4 maintained it has not stopped the release and is
ensuring flow of 9,000 CUSECS at Mettur in the neighbouring state till November 6 as
directed by the Supreme Court.
"Release of water from Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) reservoir has not been stopped and we
are maintaining release of 9,000 cuses to ensure that much flows at Mettur,"
Minister for Information Kagodu Thimmappa clarified within hours after announcing
suspension of water release.
Thimmappa while briefing the press on the Cabinet meeting, which debated the issue,
had stated that water had been suspended since on November 3 as there was no need to
release water since the inflows between KRS and Mettur in Tamil Nadu was higher than
9,000 CUSECS.
Karnataka began releasing water to Tamil Nadu in accordance with the Supreme Court's
November 1 directive to ensure 9,000 CUSES water daily till November 6.
The Court has also asked Karnataka to ensure 6,000 CUSECS inflow from November 7 to
15, the day it would hear the two contempt of court petitions filed by Tamil Nadu
alleging "wilful" disobedience of its orders on water release by Karnataka.
The Cabinet has decided to request Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to convene a
meeting of the Cauvery River Authority, of which he is the chairman, at an early
date.
The Supreme Court on November 1, while deferring the hearing of the contempt of
court petitions against Chief Minister S M Krishna and others to November 15, has
suggested that Prime Minister convene the CRA meeting to resolve the water sharing
dispute.
On November 3, Karnataka irrigation secretary Chennabasappa had stated that the
state had taken "all necessary steps to implement the Supreme Court order on release
of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu".
Mandya district, the Cauvery hinterland, has been witnessing protests against water
release and farmers bodies began a 'dharna' from November 4 demanding immediate
stoppage of water release.
PTI
