TN CM Stalin Urges PM Modi To Ask Karnataka For Immediate Release Of Cauvery Water

Stalin also requested PM to instruct the Ministry of Jal Shakthi to take appropriate action for ensuring the release of Cauvery water from Karnataka.

Stalin requested PM to intervene to clear the shortfall of Cauvery water in June and July.

Source : PTI

Tamil Nadu CM Stalin wrote to PM Modi on Friday seeking his intervention to ask Karnataka to immediately release Cauvery water for Kuruvai cultivation. The CM highlighted that the state received very less rainfall during Southwest monsoon and had been dependent on the release of water from Mettur reservoir which in turn depends on the water flow from Karnataka.

In a letter, Stalin said, “The Supreme Court fixed the share of water to be delivered to Tamil Nadu at Billigundulu, as per the monthly schedule. But unfortunately, Karnataka is not honoring the above order in letter and spirit and is also not adhering to the directions of Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA).”

“In the current 2023-2024 water year, Karnataka has released only 11.6 TMC of water, as against 40.4 TMC due at Billigundulu from 1st June to 31st July, 2023. Such a huge shortfall of 28.8 TMC has been thrust on Tamil Nadu, even while Karnataka has a gross storage of 91 TMC in its four major reservoirs, against their full storage capacity of 114.6 TMC,” he said.

As a result, the CM said that the storage position in the Mettur Reservoir of Tamil Nadu has only 26.6 TMC as on August 2, 2023. He said, “After provisioning for drinking water and other essential needs, the available water can support the standing Kuruvai crop for only 15 days more, whereas it needs water for another 45 days for maturity and optimum yield.”

Stalin also recalled that Tamil Nadu took the issue with Union Minister for Jal Shakti on July 5 and July 19.

Therefore, Stalin urged PM to advise Karnataka to immediately release the water due as per the schedule and to clear the shortfall in June and July. He also requested the PM to instruct the Ministry of Jal Shakthi to take appropriate action for ensuring the same.