Bengaluru: Former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has written a letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah saying that the Tamil Nadu Government has again taken a stand on the issue of Cauvery water distribution.
I think it has come to your attention that the Tamil Nadu Government has again taken a stand on the Cauvery water sharing issue and we have seen in the media that Tamil Nadu may go to the Supreme Court. I am writing this letter to take legal action in the coming days keeping in view the following important facts, Basavaraj Bommai stated in the letter.
On June 1, there was a total of 24,352 TMC of water in the four reservoirs of Karnataka. Similarly, 69.77 TMC in Mettur Reservoir, 16.653 TMC in Bhavani Sagar Reservoir and 14.054 TMC water has gone from Biligundlu measuring station on 6-8-2023. A total of 83.831 TMC of water has been received in Mettur Dam in Tamil Nadu this year.
Tamilnadu Kuruvai crop requires 1,80,000 acre crop per KWDT and 32 TMC water consumption. However, Tamil Nadu used 60.97 TMC of water for Kuruvai crop on 7-8-23, double the CWD order. Ignoring the scarcity of water in the Cauvery basin, the CWD violated the order and provided water to the Kuruvai area crops in four areas. The fact that our officers did not protest this in CWMA is a threat to the interest of the state, stated Bommai.
He mentioned, The water level of our existing four dams is not sufficient for the drinking water of Bengaluru city, cities and villages of the Cauvery basin. Similarly, Kharif crops in the Cauvery basin will suffer from nitrogen deficiency. Thus the release of water causes hardship to the people and farmers of Karnataka.
He added, I request them to take a firm stand on the fact that we cannot release water to Tamil Nadu due to South West and North East Monsoon rains. And added through the letter that he believes in protecting the interests of Cauvery Basin water.