On Thursday, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar announced that Karnataka intends to lodge an appeal against the directive issued by the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC), which once again urges the state to release water to neighboring Tamil Nadu.
The CWRC, on Wednesday, put forth a recommendation that Karnataka ensures the release of water from its reservoirs, amounting to 3,000 cubic feet per second (cusecs) at Biligundlu (a measuring station in Tamil Nadu). This release of water is proposed to commence on October 16 at 8 a.m. and continue until October 31.
The matter of releasing water is anticipated to be presented before the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA), which will issue an order in accordance with the CWRC's recommendation.
Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar expressed the state's stance, saying, "We currently have an inflow of 8,000-9,000 cusecs in our reservoirs, but we remain committed to safeguarding the interests of our farmers. We will file an appeal against the CWRC's recommendation. Given the ongoing absence of significant rainfall, we find this situation quite challenging."
Speaking to reporters, he acknowledged that there have been sporadic spells of minor rainfall in Bengaluru; however, the rains have not yet reached Biligundlu. He emphasized the state's determination to address the situation and reiterated the intent to appeal against the recommendation.
Responding to questions about load shedding and the resultant power cuts in many parts of the state, as well as the difficulties faced by farmers who are unable to operate their pump sets, the Deputy Chief Minister cited the drought situation in several areas, which has led to a power deficit. Energy Minister K J George had engaged with Union Power Minister R K Singh, seeking power supply from the central grid.
Shivakumar pointed out that during his tenure as the power minister in a previous Congress government, over 12,000 MW of power had been added. In contrast, the BJP government failed to plan for power expansion. He noted that power demand typically experiences annual growth of 10-15 percent. The Deputy Chief Minister criticized the previous government, stating, "They simply sold the power, that's all. Now, due to drought, almost 200 taluks are grappling with drought conditions, and people are facing significant challenges."
Recognizing that power generation requires a substantial amount of water and that coal-related issues contribute to the power situation, Shivakumar stressed the state's commitment to assisting farmers. He highlighted the efforts of the energy minister, who had met with the Union power minister to seek additional power from the central grid. In conclusion, he called for collective hope for rain, emphasizing the government's dedication to addressing the challenges posed by the drought.
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