In order to clear the June-quota as per the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) order, the Irrigation Department on Wednesday increased the quantity of water being released from the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) to Tamil Nadu.
The development, nevertheless, has triggered protests by farmers in the district.
9,000 cusecs to TN
As per the CWDT order, the State should release 10 tmcft. water in June. While Karnataka has already released 6 tmcft, it has to release four tmcft more in the next eight days to complete the June quota.
“Therefore, we have increased the outflow,” said a senior official of the Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Ltd. (CNNL), who wanted to remain anonymous.
The outflow from the reservoir was at the rate of 292 cusecs at 6.30 p.m. on Tuesday, which was increased to 4,014 cusecs (3,964 cusecs to TN and 50 to canals) at 6 a.m. and 9,000 cusecs at 6.30 p.m. on Wednesday.
Subsequently, members of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) blocked the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway here for a while. Members of the sangha also staged protests at Kala Muddana Doddi and Srirangapatna.
The protesters raised slogans against the State government and demanded that the outflow to TN be stopped immediately.
KRS level
The Irrigation Department, as per the directions from top officials from Bengaluru, had decided to increase the outflow on Wednesday morning as the catchment areas in Kodagu district of the Cauvery were receiving copious rainfall, the official said.
The water-level in the reservoir stood at 90.4 ft. at 6.30 p.m. on Wednesday. The inflow into the reservoir was at the rate of 29,740 cusecs. The full-reservoir level (FRL) is 124.8 ft.
The water-level in the reservoir has risen by 14 ft. in the last 72 hours. The water-level at KRS was 76 ft on June 20. The water-level is expected to increase in the coming days as the catchment area of the Cauvery is receiving continuous rain, the CNNL officials said.
