Cauvery crisis: Siddaramaiah to lead all-party-delegation to Delhi

BAGALKOTE: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has sought an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat to discuss Cauvery water dispute at New Delhi.

This statement comes in the wake of an all-party delegation led by Siddaramaiah from Karnataka planning to visit Delhi after the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) directed the state to release 5,000 cusecs of water every day to Tamil Nadu.

Karnataka has been objecting to the CWRC decision, since the State experienced deficit rainfall this year.

In this scenario, the State government is planning to make submissions before the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and the Supreme Court in this regard.

Siddaramaiah said Karnataka does not have water to release, and CWRC has asked the State to release 5,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu.

“First they asked us to release 15,000 cusecs. After that, they reduced it to 10,000 cusecs on our request. Now they have reduced it to 5,000 cusecs after making another request,” he said. The CWMA asked Karnataka to release water based on CWRC recommendation.

Siddaramaiah said Tamil Nadu has sought release of 24,000 cusecs of water in the apex court, but Karnataka is not in a position to do it as it has to protect the crops and provide drinking water. “We will make submissions before the CWMA laying down ground realities,” he said.

The CWRC has directed Karnataka to release 5,000 cusecs water daily to Tamil Nadu for the next 15 days from August 29. During PM Modi’s meeting, Siddaramaiah said Karnataka will also demand for gazette notification on Upper Krishna Project, environment and forest department clearance for Mahadayi project.

The State will also seek clearance for implementing Mekedatu balancing reservoir project across Cauvery, which is opposed by Tamil Nadu.