Karnataka officials tell T.N. counterparts they are helpless
The Karnataka government on Saturday expressed its inability to release 3 tmcft of Cauvery water, sought by an official team from Tamil Nadu, to meet the water requirements of people in the Cauvery basin area.
A delegation of officials from Tamil Nadu met officials in Karnataka on Saturday and requested the government to share 3 tmcft of water on humanitarian grounds because of the prevailing drought.
Poor storage
However, Chief Secretary, Karnataka, Subhash Chandra Khuntia, expressed the State’s inability to share water given the poor storage in the four reservoirs of the Cauvery basin because of drought on this side of the border as well.
The total storage in the three reservoirs stood at 8.8 tmcft, which would meet the drinking water requirement only up to June, explained Mr. Khuntia.
Speaking to the media, Mr. Khuntia said the talks were “cordial” and officials of Tamil Nadu had sought water release on “humanitarian consideration,” not on the basis of the tribunal order or the Supreme Court direction.
“Water crisis is similar in both the States. But their [T.N.’s] demand can be considered only if it rains,” he said.
