Tamil Nadu urges Centre to persuade Karnataka to release Cauvery water to save Kuruvai crop

Tamil Nadu has sought the Union Government’s intervention in asking the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) to direct Karnataka to abide by the monthly schedule of water release to save the kuruvai (mid-term) crops in the Cauvery Delta region.

In a letter to Union Water Resources Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Chief Minister M K Stalin said there was a “huge shortfall” in realising Cauvery water from Karnataka, which released a mere 3.78 tmcft between June 1 to July 17 against the prescribed quantum of 26.32 tmcft.

“This leaves a huge shortfall of 22.54 tmcft. Even this meagre flow of 3.78 tmcft realised at Billigundulu is from the flows from the uncontrolled intermediate catchment areas below the KRS and Kabini reservoirs up to Billigundulu,” Stalin said in the letter which was personally handed over to Shekhawat by Water Resources Minister Durai Murugan.

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Due to the non-release of water by Karnataka, the storage in the Mettur reservoir is dwindling fast and the current storage can sustain irrigation only for about 20 days, Stalin said, adding since Tamil Nadu receives very less rainfall from South West monsoon, the Kuruvai crop depends only on flows from Mettur reservoir, which in turn depends on releases from Karnataka.

“Although 12,000 cusecs of water were released from Mettur initially, as needed per day for the Kuruvai crop, it has been brought down to 10,000 cusecs now. Thus, we have been taking all efforts to manage the crisis with judicious water management. But the demand–supply gap is very significant and it can be met only by releases from Karnataka,” Stalin added.

Pointing out that the Cauvery Water Management Authority advised Karnataka to ensure the flows at Billigundulu as per the Supreme Court verdict, Stalin said Karnataka has not made any effort to adhere to the monthly schedule and that the standing Kuruvai crop can be saved only if the neighbouring state releases water immediately.

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“I, therefore, urge your personal and immediate intervention on this issue and request you to direct the CWMA to issue directions to Karnataka to abide by the monthly schedule prescribed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court and also make good the shortfall,” Stalin added.

The water was necessary for farmers in the Cauvery Delta region of Tamil Nadu for kuruvai (short-term crop) cultivation which has been taken up in an area of about 4 lakh acres. The cultivation is being done with water released from the Stanley Reservoir in Mettur, the lifeline of the farmers in the region.

Officials said Karnataka is supposed to release 31.24 tmcft of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu in July, 45.95 tmcft in August, and 36.76 tmcft in September. For the past few years, the issue of deficit wasn’t raised primarily because of the release of surplus water from dams in Karnataka due to incessant rains.