In compliance with the directives of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA), Karnataka has begun releasing water from its reservoirs to Tamil Nadu.
The outflow from the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) reservoir in Mandya district into the Cauvery was at the rate of 4,398 cusecs (cubic feet per second) against an inflow of 2,300 cusecs on wed. morning.
The outflow from the Kabini reservoir in Mysore district was at the rate of 2,000 cusecs as on 8 am on Wednesday.
The CWMA on Tuesday directed the state to ensure 5,000 cusecs of water at Billigundulu on the inter-State boundary every day up to September 12.
Though Karnataka had strongly put forth its inability to release water, the CWMA upheld the recommendations made by the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee to release 5,000 cusecs.
Farmers belonging to the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) launched a protest near the KRS against the govt. move.
What is Cauvery Water Management Authority?
Central Government, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 4 of the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 (33 of 1956) had constituted the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal Vide notification number S.O. 437(E), dated the 2nd June, 1990 to adjudicate upon the water dispute regarding the Inter-State river Cauvery and the river valley thereof among the States of Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Union territory of Puducherry.
The Tribunal investigated the matters referred to it and forwarded to the Central Government a report under sub-section (2) of section 5 of the Act on the 5th February, 2007. The party States filed special leave petitions in the Hon’ble Supreme Court against the said report.
Hon’ble Supreme Court converted the said special leave petitions into Civil Appeals. Hon’ble Supreme Court pronounced its judgment and final order in Civil Appeals 2453 of 2007, 2454 of 2007 and 2456 of 2007 on the 16th February, 2018 and directed the Central Government to frame a scheme under section 6A of the Act to implement the Tribunal Award as modified by the Hon’ble Supreme Court Vide Order dated the 16th February, 2018;In exercise of the powers conferred by section 6A of the said Act, the Central Government notified the Cauvery Water Management Scheme on 01st June, 2018, inter-alia, constituting the ‘Cauvery Water Management Authority’ and the ‘Cauvery Water Regulation Committee’ to give effect to the decision of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal as modified by the Hon’ble Supreme Court Vide its Order, dated 16th February, 2018.
About : Krishnaraja Sagar Dam
Krishna Raja Sagara, also popularly known as KRS, is a lake and the dam that creates it. They are close to the settlement of Krishna Raja Sagara in the Indian State of Karnataka. The gravity dam made of surki mortar is below the confluence of river Kaveri with its tributaries Hemavati and Lakshmana Tirtha, in the district of Manday.
Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV Maharaj of Mysore constructed the dam during the famine despite the critical financial condition in State. It was after him that the dam was named. There is an ornamental garden, Brindavan Gardens, attached to the dam.
About : Kabini Reservoirs
The Kabini River is one of the major tributaries of the river Cauvery in southern India. It originates near Kavilumpara in Kozhikode district of Kerala state by the confluence of the Panamaram River and the Mananthavady River. It flows eastward through Wayanad district, entering Mysore district of Karnataka, to join the Kaveri River in Mysore district of Karnataka.
Close to the town of Sargur it forms the huge Kabini Reservoir. The backwaters of the Kabini reservoir are very rich in wildlife especially in summer when the water level recedes to form rich grassy meadows. The Kabini dam is 2,284 ft (696 m) in length with an original gross storage of 19.52 tmcft. The Kabini Dam is situated between villages Bichanahalli and Bidarahalli having distance of 17 km (11 mi) 6 km away from Sargur town in Heggadadevana kote taluk, Mysore district, Karnataka.
What is KRRS and why farmers are launching protest against govt. move?
Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, also known as KRRS, is a farmer’s movement. M. D. Nanjundaswamy was the president of the organisation.
According to KRRS, Karnataka and the core area of the Cauvery basin were facing severe drought and the current storage was barely enough to meet the drinking water needs of the region.
