Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar announced on Thursday that Karnataka will challenge the recent recommendation of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) which calls for the release of river water to neighboring Tamil Nadu.
The CWRC, on Wednesday, proposed that Karnataka release water from its reservoirs, amounting to 3,000 cusecs at Biligundlu (a measuring station in Tamil Nadu) starting from October 16 at 8 am, continuing until October 31, PTI reported.
This contentious issue of water release is anticipated to be brought before the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) for further consideration and the issuance of an order in line with CWRC's recommendation.
Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar pointed out, "We currently have an inflow of 8,000-9,000 cusecs in our state's reservoirs, but our primary concern is safeguarding the interests of our farmers. Despite the inflow, we will challenge the CWRC's recommendation, as there has been a lack of adequate rainfall in the region."
Addressing reporters, he noted that while Bangalore has experienced limited rainfall, it hasn't yet reached Biligundlu. "We will strategize, but we will definitely appeal against the CWRC's directive."
Regarding concerns about load shedding leading to power cuts in various parts of the state and the difficulties faced by farmers in operating their pump sets, the Deputy Chief Minister attributed these issues to the drought conditions prevalent in many areas. He mentioned that there is a power deficit due to the drought and stated that Energy Minister K J George has met with Union Power Minister R K Singh to request the supply of power from the central grid.
Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar further commented on the power situation, saying, "When I served as the power minister during the previous Congress government, I oversaw the addition of more than 12,000 MW of power. However, during the BJP regime, there was no substantial power planning. Typically, we expect a 10-15 percent annual growth in power, but they simply sold power without investment. Now, with the drought affecting nearly 200 taluks, people are facing severe challenges."
He highlighted the need for water in power generation and also raised concerns about the availability of coal. Despite these obstacles, he emphasized the government's commitment to supporting farmers. "Our energy minister has engaged with the union power minister to secure power from the central grid. Despite the drought-induced power deficit, we are making every effort to address the situation. Our minister is actively working on it, and we all hope for much-needed rainfall."
