Not in a position to release Cauvery water for TN: Siddaramaih

Bengaluru, Aug 25 (PTI) Karnataka Chief MinisterSiddaramaih today conveyed the state’s inability to releaseCauvery water for farmers in Tamil Nadu due to deficitrainfall in the river basin area. "There is deficit rainfall in the Cauvery basin area, soin the present situation it will be difficult to release waterfor irrigation purpose," he told a delegation of farmers fromTamil Nadu who met him here. According to the CMO officials, Siddaramiah said if therewere good rains in the days to come and the situationimproved, water would be released. The farmer leaders, who met the Chief Minister at hisresidence, requested him to release water for samba crop innine lakh acres, stating that in the absence of water, theymight have to face difficulty due to crop damage. Pointing out that the water level at dams in the Cauvery basin area had not reached expected levels, Siddaramaihsaid the situation was such that there would be difficulty in providing drinking water. "In this circumstance, we will be unable to release water even under distress formula. Please understand oursituation," he told the farmers. Siddaramaih has called the meeting of floor leaders of the state Legislative Assembly and the Council on August 27to discuss Tamil Nadu’s repeated demands for release of waterand the situation in Cauvery basin area due to deficit rainfall. Union ministers from the state and district-in-charge ministers from Cauvery basin area have also been invited for the meeting, officials said. The Tamil Nadu government has moved the Supreme Court toget its share of Cauvery water. Siddaramaih had recently saidhis government was also ready for the legal battle. Speaking to reporters on the issue, Karnataka WaterResources minister M B Patil said the state government willapprise the Supreme Court, Centre and Cauvery SupervisoryCommittee about the situation. "Tamil Nadu is demanding the release of water. ChiefMinister has already said that water is not sufficient fordrinking water supply. We have cautioned our farmers about the situation and crops they are going to undertake, but Tamil Nadu is asking for Samba crop. It is a very difficult situation," he said. On the proposed Mekedatu dam project across Cauvery River, which is being opposed by Tamil Nadu, Patil saidDetailed Project Report (DPR) was ready and the draft of itwill be placed before the Cabinet next week. It would be a Rs 5,900 crore project and there would beno shortage of funds, he said, adding it would not affectTamil Nadu’s interests. Patil said the dam would have a capacity of 67 TMC, bigger than KRS (Krishna Raja Sagar) which can store 45 TMC ofwater. Noting that Tamil Nadu was having objections to the project, Patil said, "We will disclose the project to the Supreme Court, Central Water Commission and concerned Central government ministries. We will proceed with the project legally, convincing every one. The project we have prepared isvery clear, it is practically feasible." Stating that the project will be initiated in thisgovernment’s tenure itself, Patil added it will also have a300 MW power generation facility. PTI KSU RA VSSRY