BENGALURU: Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday said that cumulative inflows into the reservoirs in the Cauvery basin are decreasing. He also said that water in the reservoirs is just above half of what is needed.
“We need 106 tmcft of water in the reservoirs, but we have 56 tmcft of water at present in the reservoirs. We have got around 25 cusecs (cubic feet per second) of water after a small rain. Inflow is decreasing”, Shivakumar said at a press conference here.
The Deputy CM also said that the Agriculture Department was asked to consider not allowing the next cultivation of crops in the Cauvery basin area due to the paucity of water in the reservoirs. “We have to save the standing crops, drought has been announced. We have also asked the Agriculture Department to consider not allowing for the next cultivation. We are expecting more rain. This year is a distress year”, Shivakumar said.
He also reiterated his accusation against Opposition parties in the state that they are playing politics in the Cauvery issue. “Let BJP and JDS do their politics over Cauvery issue. We are doing our duty to protect the interest of the state,” Shivakumar said.
The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) had ordered Karnataka to ensure the release of 3,000 cusecs of Cauvery water at Biligundlu starting from September 28 till October 15, 2023. Karnataka had filed a review petition against the order both in the Supreme Court and in CWMA (Cauvery Water Management Authority. (ANI)