CHENNAI
Tamil Nadu on Tuesday impressed upon Karnataka and the Central government to ensure that the State’s share in Cauvery water – around 30 thousand million cubic feet (tmc ft) - be provided during the remaining period of the month.
It made the demand during a meeting of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) conducted through video-conferencing.
In June, the State realised around 6 tmc ft against 9.19 tmc ft, a shortfall of three tmc ft. In July, it got about 3 tmc ft. For the entire month, the State’s due is 31.24 tmc ft. Totally, the State should receive approximately 30 tmc ft in the second half of July along with June’s shortfall, say official sources in the Public Works Department (PWD).
At present, reservoirs in Karnataka have a storage of around 50%. However, their inflow has been modest, ranging from 6,100 cubic feet per second (cusecs) in Krishnaraja Sagar to 2,800 cusecs in Harangi. At the same time, the storage of the Mettur dam is around 37 tmc ft. While it is getting a meagre 160 cusecs, the outflow has been of the order of 13,000 cusecs. At this rate of inflow and outflow, the dam’s storage can last about 25 days, after giving allowance for drinking water supply requirements and dead storage.
What has come as a matter of relief to Tamil Nadu is the forecast by the Meteorological department that the southwest monsoon is likely to become vigorous after July 18 and the Cauvery catchment in Karnataka may get heavy rain, point out the sources.
