The Centre on Wednesday constituted a high-level technical team to visit the Cauvery basin area to assess the ground realities there.

Central Water Commission Chairman GS Jha heads the team, constituted by the Ministry for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation.

The team was set up in pursuance to the October 4 Supreme Court order asking the Cauvery Supervisory Committee to visit the river basin area in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to assess the ground situation and report back to it by October 17. 

The team members will converge at Bengaluru on October 7 for a preparatory meeting. It will submit its report to the Supreme Court on October 17. 

According to reports, the team will inspect Hemavathi, Harangi, Krishna Raj Sagar and Kabini reservoirs in Karnataka and is likely to inspect water stock at Mettur, Lower Bhavani Dam and Amaravati reservoirs in Tamil Nadu fromOctober 6 to October 15.

Union Water Resources Ministry Secretary Shashi Shekhar told PTI that the report submitted by the team will help the Supreme Court decide on the quantum of water that Karnataka will have to release to Tamil Nadu post October 18, when the matter will be heard next. 

(With inputs from IANS)