Cauvery Row: Karnataka Will Use 24 TMC Water For Drinking In Bengaluru, Says DK Shivakumar
Karnataka government on Tuesday issued a government order to utilise 24 tmcft of Cauvery water as against 18 tmcft used earlier for Bengaluru.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said on Wednesday that the state government decided to use 24 TMC of Cauvery river water annually for drinking purposes in Bengaluru and surrounding areas. He highlighted that although the Supreme Court sanctioned the use of 24 TMC of Cauvery water for Bengaluru's drinking water in 2018, this allocation has remained untapped until now. The announcement came after Deputy CM Shivakumar met legal experts on the Cauvery issue in New Delhi.
Addressing reporters in New Delhi, Shivakumar said that he instructed Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board to make a plan for the utilisation of 24 TMC of Cauvery water for drinking purposes in Bengaluru and surrounding areas every year.
"We have decided to utilize 24 TMC for overall drinking purposes," he said, as per PTI.
To question whether Tamil Nadu government would object to the utilisation, DK Shivakumar said that drinking water was the first priority and they were following only the order of the Supreme Court.
"Let them raise any objections. Why should we give up our rights? We are now now following the order given earlier," he said.
Further, Minister Shivakumar, who also holds Water Resources portfolio, on Mekedatu multi-purpose (drinking and power) project said the Cauvery Water Management Authority has promised to take it up in the next meeting.
Shivakumar urged the authorities and the Supreme Court to authorize the initiation of the Mekedatu project, emphasizing its potential to facilitate water extraction during challenging periods, with Tamil Nadu poised to gain significant advantages from this project more than Karnataka since the surplus water flowing into Arabian sea could be saved.
Karnataka government on Tuesday issued a government order to utilise 24 tmcft of Cauvery water as against 18 tmcft used earlier for Bengaluru.
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