The Supreme Court has ordered Karnataka to release to 15,000 cusecs per day to Tamil Nadu Officers argue that to ensure that amount reaches TN, they have to release a large, additional measure as well
Water evaporation has forced Karnataka to release a large additional measure of water from its reservoirs, in its bid to obey the Supreme Court's directive to release 15,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu.
Complying with the order, last night Karnataka released water from the KRS, Harangi and Kabini reservoirs. But Karnataka found it had to release three thousand cusecs of water additionally.
11,000 cusecs was released from the KRS reservoir of Mandya district, 2,000 cusecs was released from the Harangi reservoir of Hudgur village, Somwarpet taluk in Kodagu district and 5,000 cusecs was released from the Kabini reservoir of Beechanahalli, HD Kote Taluk in Mysuru district.
In total, 18,000 cusecs was released. The court ordered amount was 15,000 cusecs.
Though farmers have gone on a rampage and the protests are growing stronger by the day, state officers clarified that since the water had to flow 98 km before it reached Biligondlu dam, a huge proportion of the would water will be lost in the process - either by people pumping it out of natural evaporation.
“Five districts of Karnataka and hundreds of villages use the water. Hence releasing additional water is essential” officers said.
Irrigation experts say that both the KRS and Kabini dams will be empty in 10 days if water is released in this proportion and predict a scarcity of drinking water in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mandya, Chamarajanagara and Hassan districts.
