New Delhi (Agency): Basavaraj Bommai, the former Karnataka Chief Minister, has written a letter to the current Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. In it, he expresses concern about releasing Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, pointing out that doing so would pose significant problems for the people and farmers of Karnataka.
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The ongoing water dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu took another twist this week. Former Karnataka Chief Minister, Basavaraj Bommai, requested current Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to hold firm on the decision that Karnataka should not release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.
This request came in the form of a letter. In it, the BJP leader highlighted the impact the water release would have on the residents and farmers of Karnataka. He expressed that the move would “cause hardship to the people and farmers.”
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu has a different perspective on the issue. Its government recently stated that they have no choice but to ask the Supreme Court for the Cauvery water. They pointed out that Karnataka has decided to release only a smaller amount of water, 8,000 cusecs, which is not enough.
Supporting his argument with data, Bommai stated: “On June 1, there was a total of 24,352 TMC of water in the four reservoirs of Karnataka (Cauvery basin). Similarly, 69.77 TMC in Mettur Reservoir, 16.653 TMC in Bhavani Sagar Reservoir, and 14.054 TMC water flowed from Biligundlu measuring station on 6-8-2023. So, a total of 83.831 TMC of water has been received in Mettur Dam in Tamil Nadu this year.”
But the real issue seems to be the amount of water Tamil Nadu has been using for agriculture. According to the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT), Tamil Nadu should use 32 TMC of water for the Kuruvai crop, grown over 1.8 lakh acres. However, Bommai pointed out that “Tamil Nadu, as on August 7, has used 60.97 TMC of water for Kuruvai crop.” This amount is almost double the permitted usage according to the CWDT order.
He further mentioned that Tamil Nadu’s use of water for areas much larger than allowed by the CWDT order is a violation. “Ignoring the scarcity of water in the Cauvery basin, water has been provided to four times the prescribed Kuruvai area (in Tamil Nadu),” he stated. This lack of protest by state officials in the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) affects Karnataka’s interests negatively.
In his letter, Bommai also shed light on the insufficient water levels in Karnataka’s dams. He stated these levels are not adequate even for basic needs like drinking water in Bengaluru and other regions in the Cauvery basin. Furthermore, the crops in the region would face a shortage if any more water is released to Tamil Nadu.
Closing his letter, Bommai appealed to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to prioritize the well-being of Karnataka’s people. He stated that given the ongoing monsoon rains in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka should refrain from releasing the Cauvery water. He expressed hope, saying, “I believe that you will protect the interests of the people of the Cauvery basin.”
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(Note: This article is an original creation based on the details provided by PTI and has not been edited by outlookindia.com.)