Karnataka to release Cauvery water for its farmers: Karnataka Assembly’s Resolution

On 3 Oct, 2016, The Karnataka Assembly in its special session passed a resolution that the government would release the Cauvery water for the state’s farmers. However, the resolution has no mention of the recent Supreme Court orders, which directed the Karnataka government to release 6,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu till October 6. During the session, it was argued that due to the increase of water in the four reservoirs from 27.6 tmc to 34.13 tmc, it had been be decided to use the water not only for drinking but farming purposes as well.

“There was 27.60 tmc of water in the four reservoirs. On 23 September, we had decided only to release water for drinking purposes. Now, the storage has gone up to 34.13 tmc. And the farmers in the Cauvery basin are requesting the state government to release the water. Keeping this entire things in mind, this house passes a resolution for releasing water to the farmers for their standing crops and keeping in mind the requirement for drinking purpose,” the resolution stated.

On September 23, the state legislature had unanimously resolved to reserve waters of the Cauvery river for drinking purpose of the people in the state.

The apex court had on September 30 directed Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu from October 1 till October 6 and asked the CWMB to visit both states and file a report on the “ground realities” by October 6. However Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi moved to the Supreme Court against its last order on the Cauvery water. The Attorney General has in his plea stated that only Parliament has the power to constitute the CWMB and not the apex court.

By – Nikita Goel