Terming Tamil Nadu government’s petition before the Supreme Court seeking directions to Karnataka to release 45.327 tmcft of Cauvery water from its reservoirs as “not maintainable”, Minister for Water Resources M.B. Patil on Monday said the State would file its response before the court after the Dasara festival.
Mr. Patil was speaking to presspersons after holding a meeting of technical and law officials to discuss issues related to the application filed by Tamil Nadu.
He said the sub-committee of Cauvery Supervisory Committee formed to assess water availability in the wake of drought gripping Karnataka due to monsoon failure was still assessing the situation. Filing an application at this juncture was not maintainable, he said.
The sub-committee has also understood the inability of Karnataka to release water in view of the worst-ever drought the State had witnessed in recent years, he said.
Karnataka government would file its detailed response to Tamil Nadu’s objection after consulting legal and technical experts. “Tamil Nadu government has sought the release of 45.327 tmcft, but where is the water in our reservoirs to release?” he asked.
Pointing out that Karnataka had released 101.408 tmcft of water of the total 192 tmcft directed by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, he said the State had released more quantum than the quantity specified during the general distress situation.
Tamil Nadu’s petition before the SC seeking directions to Karnataka to release 45.327 tmcft of Cauvery water is
not maintainable
M.B. Patil,Minister for Water Resources
