Water storage deficit at 28 pc in Cauvery basin dams, says Deputy CM Shivakumar

BENGALURU: Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who is also Water Resources Minister, has said that the water storage deficit in Cauvery basin reservoirs was at 28 per cent.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting on Cauvery water release to Tamil Nadu, he said, “The water storage level at reservoirs in the Cauvery basin is currently at 62 per cent. The deficit is 28 per cent in percentage terms or 19 tmcft in absolute terms. Water storage at Harangi stood at 73 per cent, Hemavathi at 55 per cent, KRS at 54 per cent, Kabini at 96 per cent”.

Asked if water was being released from Kabini to Tamil Nadu, he said, “Kabini reservoir is 96 per cent full and water was being released from the dam in line with the safety norms”. Asked if water will be released for the farmers of Mandya, he said a decision regarding that would be taken after an all-party meeting.

“We have insufficient rains, but Cauvery Water Management Authority has asked Karnataka to release 1 tmcft of water every day. I have had discussions with our legal team including Shyam Dewan and Mohan Katharaki and they have given some suggestions on the way forward”, he said.

On Friday he said that he held discussions with legal experts on releasing Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.”We have had discussions with our legal team on the future course of action, we will soon have a discussion with the officials of the irrigation department”, he told reporters.

#WATCH | On govt to observe June 25, the day Emergency was declared, as Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas, Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar says, “After the emergency, the Congress party has ruled this country with Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Manmohan Singh and P. V. Narasimha Rao. The… pic.twitter.com/Waed6etUZC

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The Tamil Nadu and Karnataka governments are locked in a protracted tussle over the sharing of Cauvery River water. The river is seen as a major source of sustenance for the people in either state.Earlier on Thursday, the Cauvery Water Control Committee directed Karnataka to release 1 thousand million cubic feet of water to Tamil Nadu every day. Following this, an emergency meeting of the Water Resources Department was called at Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s residence.

Shivakumar also spoke about the Centre’s announcement to celebrate June 25 as ‘Constitution Murder Day’ in remembrance of the 1975 Emergency. “Congress party has governed the country even after the Emergency. The people elected Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, P V Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh as Prime ministers of the country. It is evidence enough to say that people of the country have faith in Congress party”, he said. (ANI)