We have no water to release Cauvery water - CM Siddaramaiah

We should put aside party politics and stand as one voice in the matter of protecting Kannada land, language, water and culture. Cauvery water distribution has become difficult for our state due to lack of preparedness formula. It is not a question of not leaving water. We have no water to spare, said CM Siddaramaiah.

The Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was speaking in a meeting of Union Ministers, Members of Parliament of all parties in Delhi regarding the efficient management of the difficult situation faced in the issue of Cauvery water distribution.

33 tmc for drinking water, 70 tmc for crop protection, 3 tmc for industries and a total of 106 tmc are required. Now we have only 53 TMC of water. Thus Tamilnadu has no water to spare. We don't get rain after August. Tamil Nadu gets rains after August. Ground water is also high there. So we are in more trouble.

Our legal team and team of experts and officers have ably argued the factual situation before CWMC. According to the Supreme Court order, we had to release 108.4 TMC of water. But we have left only 39.8 TMC of water. When faced with such a situation, it is necessary for us to protect the welfare of the people efficiently. So we need goats to use our water, store it, generate electricity in our land. In the coming days, Mekedatu will be the solution to such a situation.

We have already written to the Union Irrigation Minister twice and explained the situation comprehensively. We have sought the time of the Union Water Power Minister and the Prime Minister to meet with the all-party delegation. Therefore, we should discuss the steps to be taken on the basis of scientific facts, he said.

The Cauvery Water Management Authority had ordered the release of 5,000 cusecs of water for 15 days, but Karnataka has refused to comply, citing severe drought in the state.

Tamil Nadu has urged the release of a total of 12,500 cusecs of water. Both sides are seeking a resolution to the issue.

Speaking about the issue in paliament, former Prime Minister and senior JD(S) leader HD Deve Gowda said the "quarrel" between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu will not be solved "legally" and a solution will come out only after both sides sit together.