Chennai, July 29
Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president and Virudhunagar MP Manickam Tagore on Wednesday urged the Karnataka government to immediately comply with the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) directive to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, warning that any delay or legal challenge would aggravate tensions between the two neighbouring States and further distress farmers dependent on the river.
In a post on X, Tagore criticised Karnataka Water Resources Minister K. Ramalinga Reddy’s statement that the State was considering an appeal against the CWRC order and was not in a position to release water because of drought conditions and low reservoir storage. He described the remarks as irresponsible and said they created unnecessary friction between the two States at a time when cooperation was crucial.
Tagore said Tamil Nadu’s Kuruvai cultivation had already suffered due to inadequate water availability and cautioned that the forthcoming Samba season would also be affected if the scheduled release was delayed. He stressed that farmers in the Cauvery delta were anxiously awaiting water to sustain agricultural operations.
“The Karnataka government should implement the CWRC order in letter and spirit without any excuses. Water must be released immediately,” he said.
The CWRC on Tuesday directed Karnataka to release 4 tmcft of water to Tamil Nadu at the rate of 3,500 cusecs per day for 15 days beginning July 29. Karnataka, however, has indicated that it is examining the possibility of approaching the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) against the directive.
Referring to the latest water-sharing figures, Tagore said Tamil Nadu had received only 3.543 tmcft of water against the scheduled allocation of 35.391 tmcft as of July 26. According to him, the State had received only about 10 per cent of its allocated share, resulting in a cumulative shortfall of 9.46 tmcft during the current water year.
Emphasising the importance of respecting judicial and statutory mechanisms governing the Cauvery dispute, Tagore said adherence to legally binding orders was essential to uphold the federal spirit, ensure equitable sharing of river waters and safeguard the livelihoods of thousands of farmers in Tamil Nadu.
