The quantum of four thousand million cubic feet (tmc), the release of which was directed by the Supreme Court to Karnataka on Thursday, would be sufficient to meet the bare minimum drinking water requirements of the State for 80 days.
But this calculation holds good only when the authorities continue with the current level of discharge of 500 cubic feet per second (cusecs) from the Mettur reservoir. “Ordinarily, 900 cusecs of water should be released. But, considering the poor availability, only 500 cusecs of water are being released,” says a senior official handling the Cauvery dispute.
The demand for drinking water supply is being met with only partially.
If the discharge goes up to 900 cusecs, the quantum, if realised, would take care of the requirement for 50 days.
Pointing out that the figure refers to the remainder of the quantum of water that ought to be released by Karnataka to Tamil Nadu during February-April, the official cites the final order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, under which 2.5 tmc should be released every month in the period.
Of a total of 7.5 tmc, the shortfall is around four tmc, which was why the Supreme Court asked Karnataka to make good the deficit immediately. Besides, the release is meant for meeting environmental purposes, as stipulated by the Tribunal in the final order, the official emphasises.
The official contends that it is the position of the State government that the revised quantum of 177.25 tmc of the Cauvery water, as ordered by the Court in the order of February 16, should come into force only from the next water year, which begins in June.
For the current year, Karnataka is bound to supply 192 tmc, the official says.
