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Cauvery panel submits report

By Gargi Parsai

NEW DELHI, JUNE 12 . The three-member Central team that visited Tamil Nadu and Karnataka for a quick assessment of the ground realities in the Cauvery basin today submitted its report to the Union Government.

Based on the team's findings, the Centre will have to take a decision on whether Karnataka should be asked to release a few tmcft of water to Tamil Nadu as a "goodwill gesture."

Although details were not immediately available, it is learnt that the water position in the four reservoirs of Karnataka are higher than that in the Mettur reservoir in Tamil Nadu.

Indications are that the water position in the Karnataka reservoirs was over 16 tmcft, while in Mettur it was around 11 tmcft about two days back.

Much will depend upon the rainfall, which is expected to improve in the next fortnight. The overall forecast for the country is a "normal monsoon."

However, the India Meteorological Department's regional forecast would be made only by June end.

The team observed that the water level situation in all the reservoirs in Karnataka and Mettur was better this year than last year and that the sowing of kuruvai crop in Tamil Nadu would be by the month-end.

In view of the findings of the team, the Secretary, Water Resources, might convene a meeting of the Cauvery Monitoring Committee (CMC) to review the situation.

The official-level CMC assists the Cauvery Review Authority (CRA) chaired by the Prime Minister.

The Centre had decided to depute a three-member team of water and crop sciences experts to the two States following an all-party meeting of MPs and Union Ministers from Tamil Nadu with the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, last Tuesday, seeking his intervention for the implementation of the interim award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal.

Later, an all-party delegation from Karnataka met Mr. Singh and disputed Tamil Nadu's allegation of lack of Cauvery water releases at Mettur over the years.

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