Bengaluru/New Delhi: Karnataka is under renewed pressure to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, with the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) on Tuesday directing it to release 12,000 cusecs daily for 15 days from Aug 12, despite weakening rainfall and falling reservoir levels.The directive sparked protests across the Cauvery basin, with farmers planning a major demonstration near the Krishnaraja Sagara (KRS) dam in Mandya on Wednesday and a Karnataka bandh on Thursday.Reacting to the latest directive, chief minister D K Shivakumar and water resources minister Ramalinga Reddy said the govt was examining all legal options, including approaching the Supreme Court. They said the govt had a duty to protect farmers while complying with court orders.Earlier on Tuesday, the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) recommended that Karnataka release the water. Subsequently, the state’s appeal against the recommendation was rejected by Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA), which upheld the CWRC order.The latest order came shortly before TN’s plea in the Supreme Court, alleging wilful disobedience of CWMA’s earlier directive. The plea is scheduled for hearing on Thursday. TN has also sought monitoring of Karnataka’s reservoirs every 10 days.Gaurav Gupta, the additional chief secretary of Karnataka, who attended the CWMA meeting, said: “There are different dimensions to this issue. We will examine all of those comprehensively and then take appropriate action regarding the legal remedy available to us.”Asked if Karnataka had been treated unfairly, Gupta added: “Although we said we had been treated unfairly, when there was more rainfall in the Cauvery basin, we were able to manage the situation.”On July 28, CWRC directed Karnataka to ensure a flow of 3,500 cusecs at Biligundlu for 15 days from July 29, a directive later upheld by CWMA.Karnataka said it had released about 4.5 tmc ft, exceeding the requirement well before the Aug 12 deadline. TN, though, claimed a cumulative shortfall of 21.3 tmc ft and sought a total release of about 36.4 tmc ft at Biligundlu by the end of the month.Karnataka, however, cited low storage in its four Cauvery basin reservoirs, which stood at 77.7 tmc ft — about 47% below the 30-year average. It said it had released 86,942 cusecs until Aug 10, against the prescribed 52,500 cusecs, and argued that future releases should be based on prevailing ground conditions rather than a rigid pro-rata formula.QuoteI am very transparent. No one should engage in protests, politics or publicity. People have given us the power to protect farmers, and we don’t want to cause them problems. Have patience. I will discuss the issue with the water resources minister, officials and legal team.D K Shivakumar | CM, KarnatakaPoints for GFX:STATE WEIGHS LEGAL OPTION* K’taka CM D K Shivakumar and water resources minister Ramalinga Reddy says govt examining legal options, including approaching the Supreme Court.* TN seeks action against K’taka for alleged wilful disobedience of an earlier CWMA directive; plea scheduled for hearing Thursday* Karnataka says storage in its four Cauvery basin reservoirs is 77.7 tmc ft — about 47% below the 30-year average* K’taka farmers plan a major demonstration near KRS dam on Wednesday, followed by a Karnataka bandh on Thursday
