With mercury levels on the rise and water levels in Karnataka’s dams on a decline, the southern state, like the other drought-affected states, has pinned its hope on the summer showers to ease its water woes. And if the summer showers don’t turn up, neither will Tamil Nadu get any water from the Cauvery, and nor will residents of Bengaluru get the supply they need.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah told reporters on Sunday that the state cannot release Cauvery water to its neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu in the wake of severe water crisis in the state. Unless the state receives rainfall in the next few days, the possibility of sharing water does not arise, the CM noted.
Siddaramaiah’s response was a reiteration of what a state delegation apprised a four-member delegation from Tamil Nadu on Saturday. The delegation had asked Karnataka to release 3tmcft Cauvery water on humanitarian grounds. However, Karnataka expressed its inability to do so, in the wake of depleting water levels in its reservoirs.
With this, the heat of water woes is likely to be felt in the city of Bengaluru, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board Chairman said.
In an interview with Ashwini M Sripad of The New Indian Express, Tushar Girinath said that though the board has enough water to cater to the requirements of Bengaluru till the end of May, the situation may get worse, if the summer showers fail.
“If we get summer showers, there will not be any problem till monsoon arrives. But if we do not get sufficient summer showers, we might have end up rationalising water supply,” he said.
If the state does not get the summer showers in April and May, BWSSB will have to reduce the water supply from once in two days to once in three days. “With this, we might be able to manage till June 10,” the chairman said.
The board continues to draw 1350 mld of water to supply to the city of Bengaluru, which are also supplied in 90 water tanks to the outskirts of the city.