Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Irrigation Minister DK Shivakumar announced on Monday that Karnataka has released 30 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) of water from the Cauvery basin reservoirs to Tamil Nadu so far in July. This decision aligns with directives from the Cauvery Water Regulatory Authority (CWRA), enabled by favorable monsoon conditions.
Speaking at Vidhana Soudha and later at the KRS dam, Shivakumar said, “We have been releasing 51,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu every day for the past few days. We have released 30 TMC till now (in July) and if we release another 10 TMC, it will be in line with the quota in a normal monsoon month.”
In addition, the minister has directed officials to fill all 1,657 tanks in the Cauvery Basin area. Emphasizing the government's commitment to the farming community, Shivakumar mentioned that although the Cauvery Water Management Committee (CWMC) asked for the release of 20 TMC of water from July 11 to July 30, the state initially withheld the water due to insufficient supply for farmers. After an all-party meeting and further discussion, the water was eventually released.
The minister also outlined agricultural plans, including the aim to sow seeds on 2 lakh hectares. Various programs have been launched for the sowing season, including the distribution of 5.90 lakh quintal seeds, stocking up 27 lakh tonnes of fertilizers, and disbursing Rs 25,000 crore in loans to approximately 30 lakh farmers through cooperatives.
### Cauvery Aarti Alike Ganga Aarti
The Karnataka government is planning to start a Cauvery aarti similar to the Ganga aarti in Varanasi. Shivakumar said, "Thanks to the blessings of goddess Chamundeshwari, we have got an opportunity to offer ‘baagina’ to Cauvery. For the Cauvery aarti, we will study the plan with the help of a 20-member committee from the Cauvery basin area, including MLAs and officials. We will identify the right location for Cauvery Aarti. The Muzrai department, Cauvery Neeravari Nigam, and other departments will be involved in this."
### New Look for Brindavan Amusement Park
Shivakumar also revealed plans to revamp the Cauvery Brindavan amusement park, which is expected to create up to 10,000 jobs for locals. The plan initially approved in the last budget but not yet implemented, includes provisions for visitors to stay within the park.
When asked about the future of current Brindavan Gardens employees, Shivakumar assured that their interests would be protected in the new project. He emphasized that the park would retain its name and brand while undergoing a complete redesign.
