New Delhi (Agency): Duraimurugan, Tamil Nadu’s Water Resources Minister, has urged the central government to aid in procuring the required Cauvery water release from Karnataka. In his meeting with Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Duraimurugan stressed the crucial water deficit that Tamil Nadu is currently grappling with, which if not addressed, threatens to impact the crops in the Cauvery delta region.
According to Duraimurugan, Tamil Nadu has only received 2.993 tmc ft (thousand million cubic) water out of the 12.213 tmc ft that it is entitled to for June. This leaves a concerning deficit of 9.220 tmc ft. “Hence, as per the SC judgment, the body that should take action is the Cauvery Water Management Authority,” Duraimurugan emphasized. He called upon Shekhawat to prod the Authority to negotiate the necessary water release from Karnataka.
Duraimurugan alluded to a Tamil proverb to clarify why a direct discussion with Karnataka, governed by ally Congress, was unfeasible. He suggested that matters like food and water often supersede relationships and must be approached as such. Top State officials are set to convene with the concerned authorities on July 5 to address this pressing matter.