The high-level technical team, headed by Central Water Commission (CWC) Chairman G S Jha, will visit the Cauvery basin area from October 7 to 15 to assess “ground realities” as directed by the Supreme Court.
As per the notification issued by the Ministry of Water Resources on Tuesday evening, the team, comprising CWC Member Syed Masood Hussain, its chief engineer R K Gupta and chief engineer-rank representatives of the states, would visit the basin areas of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry. chief secretaries of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu or their nominees could also accompany the team.
The team is expected to visit Hemavathi, Harangi, Krishnarajasagar and Kabini reservoirs in Karnataka. In Tamil Nadu, it would inspect Mettur, Lower Bhavani Dam and Amaravati reservoirs in the basin, which covers approximately 81,000 square km area.
“The team will assess water availability in the basin area and crop situation in the wake of drought. The report will help the apex court arrive at a decision on quantum of water to be released by Karnataka to Tamil Nadu post October 18 when the matter will be heard next,” Union Water Resources Ministry Secretary Shashi Shekhar told reporters here. The expert team will submit its report to the apex court on October 17.