A four-member delegation from the government of Tamil Nadu met with a delegation from its neighbouring state of Karnataka on Saturday, to once again negotiate Cauvery water sharing. The Tamil Nadu delegation headed by Secretary-II to CM, Shiv Das Meena, reportedly asked Karnataka government to release 3tmcft of water on humanitarian grounds.
However, the Karnataka delegation headed by the Chief Secretary Subhash Kuntia conveyed to its neighbouring state, that it was unable to release Cauvery water, since the state was reeling under consecutive drought.
Kuntia apprised the Tamil Nadu delegation about the ground situation in the state, making it “very difficult” for it to release water.
“But we are in trouble too and require whatever water we have to supply drinking water during summer months. We told them it is really difficult to release the water. We explained the reality and storage levels in our dams,” he told reporters after the meeting.
The four dams on the Cauvery basin had 8.8tmcft of live storage and the requirement of the Mysuru belt for drinking water was 3.3tmcft per month, Kuntia added.
However, he assured the Tamil Nadu delegation that it would be able to release water if the state receives rainfall.
The TN delegation, that sought drinking water on humanitarian grounds, said: “They were very receptive, but expressed that they too are facing extreme water stress. They have promised to consider our request if situation permits.
Meanwhile, the central government on Saturday said that it has released Rs. 1,712.10 crore and Rs1,235.52 crore for drought-hit states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, respectively, from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).