The Hindu : Karnataka News : State rules out water to Tamil Nadu

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Thursday, Oct 28, 2010
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Karnataka

Karnataka

State rules out water to Tamil Nadu

Special Correspondent

There are bright chances of water overflowing ‘in natural course': Bommai

Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah and Janata Dal (S) leader

Bangalore: The State Government has turned down Tamil Nadu's request for release of Cauvery waters to Mettur dam, after taking into account the State's own drinking water and irrigation requirements till June.

The decision was reached at an all-party meeting convened by Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa.

However, speaking to presspersons after the meeting, Water Resources Minister Basavaraj Bommai said there were bright chances of water overflowing “in natural course”, considering that Krishnaraja Sagar was already close to its maximum capacity of 124.8 ft.

It was raining heavily in the catchment area in Kodagu, and the levels had reached 124.7 ft. “But we will not release voluntarily,” he said.

In the first meeting of its kind after the political crisis broke out in Karnataka, where leaders of all parties met in a cordial atmosphere, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Siddaramaiah said there was “no question of politics in matters concerning water and land.” Janata Dal (Secular) leader and former Minister H.D. Revanna said farmers in Karnataka needed water till January 15 as there was delay in release of water to them by a month this year in the kharif season. Water had been released by August 15, while it was normally released by July 15, he added.

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister S. Suresh Kumar, Higher Education Minister V.S. Acharya, M.C. Nanaiah of the Janata Dal (S) and Motamma of the Congress were among those present at the meeting.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister had written to his Karnataka counterpart demanding release of water for irrigation, as per the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal's award. There has been agitation by farmers in Tamil Nadu demanding that Karnataka be pressured to adhere to the tribunal award.

Outflow from KRS

Mysore Special Correspondent reports:

The outflow from the Krishnaraja Sagar, near Mysore, has been stepped up following incessant rains in the upstream region of the dam.

Officials in the Irrigation Department told The Hindu that there were good rains in the catchment area of Cauvery river and the inflow into the reservoir was at the rate of 11,500 cusecs as on Wednesday. The dam had attained its full reservoir level of 124.8 ft and hence it was imperative to regulate the outflow, as not a drop of water could be impounded anymore, the officials said.

They said there were reports of heavy rains in the upstream region of the Cauvery and the gauging station had recorded a flow of 17,500 cusecs, which may reach the KRS by morning. Hence, the outflow from the reservoir may go up further, said the officials.

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