Karnataka to appeal against CWRC order to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu before CWMA

Karnataka has decided to file an appeal before the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) against the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee’s (CWRC) order, issued on Tuesday, to release 3,500 cusecs of water daily for 15 days to Tamil Nadu.

The CWMA’s meeting, scheduled in Delhi on Thursday, is now being keenly watched as Karnataka’s appeal is expected to come up before it. The CWMA, which is the apex body that monitors the Cauvery water releases by upper riparian States as decided by the Supreme Court, may take a call on the appeal on Thursday, considering the urgency of the matter, according to sources in the government.

As per the original agenda, the CWMA will review the status of hydro-meteorological conditions in the Cauvery basin and take stock of deficit in inflow realised at Biligundlu (Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border) and Karaikal of Union Territory of Puducherry in the present water year.

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar stated in New Delhi on Wednesday that preparations to file an appeal were going on. Already, consultations had been held in this regard with the State Advocate-General and legal experts as well as officials concerned, he noted.

“The rain gods have not been kind to us this time. Earlier, the CWRC had rejected Tamil Nadu’s request for the release of Cauvery water on two occasions. However, this time it has directed Karnataka to release water. We have discussed the legal options with Water Resources Minister Ramalinga Reddy and the officials concerned,” he said.

All-party meeting

The Chief Minister, who is presently camping in Delhi to hold consultations with the party high command on Cabinet expansion, said he would hold a meeting with Opposition leaders on the Cauvery water issue after his return to Bengaluru.

Meanwhile, Mr. Reddy held a meeting with legal experts and officials in Bengaluru to discuss about the implications of the CWRC’s order and the decision to file an appeal against it.

The legal experts expressed concern that Karnataka may have to release much more quantum of water than that stipulated by the CWRC to meet the target at the Biligundlu inter-State measuring gauge, considering the dry hydrological conditions, it is learnt.