Kar refuses to release due quantum of Cauvery water, No option than to move SC : TN Minister

Chennai, Aug 12 (FN Agency) After the talks on release of due share of Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu failed resulting in a walk out by the TN delegation at the Cauvery Water Regulatory Committee (CWRC) meeting held in New Delhi on Friday evening, the TN government said it has no option than to move the Supreme Court to save the standing crops, which was withering due to shortage of water. In a statement here, Tamil Nadu Water Resources Minister Duraimurgan said at the meeting “it was unanimously decided to release 15,000 cusecs of water per day by Karnataka for 15 days following insistence from the TN government”. But Karnataka, at the CWRC meeting, after three hours of discussions and despite the State insisting on its demand, Karnataka, as usual, changed its stand and said only 8,000 cusecs of water would be released and that too till August 22. Noting that all the four reservoirs in Karnataka have adequate storage up to 93.535 tmc ft of water as against the total capacity of 114.571 tmcft, he said Karnataka has no heart to release water and everyone associated with the issue it know very well right from the days the issue cropped up between the two states.

Expressing regret over the Karnataka’s stand on the issue, the Minister said Karnataka was not bothered even if the crops wither in Tamil Nadu. “Hence, there is no option for Tamil Nadu to move the Apex Court”, he added. “We will soon move the Supreme Court, file a case, win it and get our due share of Cauvery waters and the DMK Government led by Chief Minister is firm on it”, Mr Duraimurugan, said. Earlier, as Karnataka refused to heed to TN’s request, the state delegation walked out of the meeting despite repeated insistence for release of water to save the standing Samba and Kuruvai crops which were dependent on the Cauvery waters for irrigation.