Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister, DK Shivakumar
Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister, DK Shivakumar, has stated that the state is unable to release water to its neighboring state, Tamil Nadu, as directed by the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC). The CWRC recommended that Karnataka release 2,600 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu daily for a period of 15 days starting from November 1.
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Shivakumar, who is responsible for the water resource portfolio, explained that the inflow of water into the Krishnaraja Sagar Dam (KRS Dam) is insufficient for releasing water to Tamil Nadu. He mentioned that there is currently no inflow into the KRS Dam and that only 815 cusecs of water naturally flow from KRS and Kabini dams to Tamil Nadu.
Furthermore, Shivakumar noted that there is only approximately 51 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) of water left in the Cauvery basin. This remaining water is crucial to meet the drinking water requirements of the region. Tamil Nadu had initially demanded 13,000 cusecs of water every day, but due to the limited water availability, Karnataka has expressed its inability to meet this demand.