The Tamil Nadu delegation, led by state Water Resources Minister Duraimurugan, will meet Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in New Delhi on Monday to urge him to direct Karnataka to release the state's due share of Cauvery water.
The visit comes days after the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal ordered Karnataka to release 5,000 cusecs of water per day to Tamil Nadu. However, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had petitioned the Centre against a recent recommendation to release 5,000 cusecs water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days.
"But Karnataka has not released even a drop of water," said Durai Murugan, Water Resource Minister for Tamil Nadu, as he left for Delhi.
Karnataka, however, maintains that it had no water to release to Tamil Nadu as water storage in the reservoirs of the Cauvery basin was inadequate to meet even its own requirements. "We have faced a severe deficit of rain in August compared to the previous 100 years. We don't have water, that's why we are not in a position to release water as per the SC order," Siddaramaiah told reporters after an all-party meeting held recently.
Tamil Nadu claims Karnataka is lying. On whether Karnataka's claim was false, Murugan said, "Yes, they are lying."
#WATCH | Chennai | Tamil Nadu Water Resources Minister Duraimurugan says, "Cauvery Water Regulation Committee has already recommended Karnataka Govt to release 5000 cusecs of water for 15 days. But the Karnataka Govt didn't take any action regarding that. They are not releasing… pic.twitter.com/GLIOMbrgrY
— ANI (@ANI) September 18, 2023
Duraimurugan said he would ask the Union Jal Shakti minister to address the issue. "We are going to ask the central minister today what are you going to do since you are looking on these two committees. Are you going to order Karnataka and monitor the situation," he told reporters in Delhi.
Viduthalai Siruthigal Katchi party chief and Lok Sabha MP Thol Thirumavalavan accompanied Duraimurugan to Delhi. "Today we are planning to meet the Union Water Resource Minister on the Cauvery water issue. He should intervene and hope he will ask the Karnataka government and implement the Cauvery water management order to release water to Tamil Nadu."
