CWRC Orders Release of Cauvery Water to Tamil Nadu; Next Step After Assessing Karnataka’s Water Situation: CM DK Shivakumar

Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Water Resources Minister DK Shivakumar said the government would take a decision on the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee’s (CWRC) direction to release 12,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu after conducting a detailed assessment of the state’s prevailing water situation.

Speaking to the media at Vidhana Soudha on Tuesday, Shivakumar said the government had to strike a balance between complying with court directions and protecting the interests of Karnataka’s farmers.

“We need to follow the court’s order while also protecting the interests of our farmers. I have already discussed the matter with the Irrigation Minister. We will take the next step after thoroughly reviewing the water situation in the state,” he said.

He said the government was closely monitoring the inflows into Karnataka’s rivers and stressed the need to hold local meetings with farmers before taking decisions on cropping patterns. “It is not only the Cauvery. We have to consider the storage levels in all reservoirs, including the Tungabhadra and Almatti, while deciding what crops can be cultivated,” he said.

Asked about the possibility of farmers launching protests over the issue, Shivakumar appealed for restraint. “I work transparently. I will not take decisions for those who want to do politics or make statements before the media. Nobody can simply stop the flow of water. People should remain calm. We are with you and are working for you,” he said.

He said the people had given the government the mandate to protect farmers and assured that no farmer would be allowed to suffer because of the situation. “We will not allow any farmer to face hardship for any reason. If we remain calm, all issues can be resolved amicably. Nature itself will protect us,” he said.

Political Meeting on Wednesday

On the meeting of ministers scheduled for Wednesday, Shivakumar said it would focus on providing guidance and discussing the party’s upcoming programmes. “A political meeting has been convened on Wednesday with ministers and 15 party leaders to provide guidance and discuss the party’s future programmes. The Cabinet meeting is scheduled for Thursday,” he said.