The Aryavarth Express
Agency(Karnataka): On Monday, Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar firmly stated that there will be no release of water from the Cauvery river to Tamil Nadu under any circumstances. This announcement comes in response to accusations and protests regarding the alleged diversion of water from the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) dam to the neighboring state, which Shivakumar vehemently denies, asserting that any discharge was exclusively for Bengaluru’s needs.
Addressing the media in Bengaluru, Shivakumar, who also serves as the Minister for Water Resources, emphasized the state government’s stance against releasing Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu amidst the current drought and water scarcity affecting various regions of Karnataka. “There is an account for how much water flows to Tamil Nadu. Even if water is released today, it would take four days to reach there,” he explained, highlighting the logistical aspects of water distribution.
The Deputy CM’s remarks also served as a rebuke to those doubting the government’s intentions, “We are not fools to release water to Tamil Nadu,” he stated, reinforcing his role and that of the Congress-led state government in prioritizing Karnataka’s water security.
The clarification comes in the wake of protests led by the ‘Raitha Hitarakshana Samiti’ in Mandya, where demonstrators voiced their concerns over the alleged redirection of water to Tamil Nadu during a period marked by drought and a pressing water crisis within the state. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has also critiqued the Congress administration, accusing it of favoring DMK, its alliance partner in Tamil Nadu, over the welfare of Karnataka’s farmers and citizens.
Shivakumar further elucidated that the water release from KRS dam was intended to augment the levels in the Shiva Balancing Reservoir at Malavalli, which is crucial for supplying water to Bengaluru. “The water level needed to be at a certain threshold to enable pumping to Bengaluru, hence the discharge…it was solely for Bengaluru’s water needs,” he clarified, dismissing any speculation of water being sent to Tamil Nadu.
