Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin described Karnataka's refusal to execute the CWRC's ruling as 'condemnable' and 'insulting' to Tamil Nadu farmers who rely on Cauvery water for irrigation. Tamil Nadu has labelled Karnataka's refusal to give 1 tmcft of water per day from July 12 to July 31 as an act of "treachery," and has invited a gathering of leaders from all legislative parties on Tuesday to discuss the state government's future measures in this delicate subject.
According to Chief Minister M K Stalin, the meeting will be led by Water Resources Minister Durai Murugan at 11 a.m. at the Secretariat, the Tamil Nadu government's seat of power, and will be attended by leaders of the assembly's parties. Stalin stated that the Cauvery Water Regulatory Commission (CWRC) and Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) advised the Karnataka government to release 1 tmcft of water after taking into account the predicted influx of water into Karnataka dams caused by monsoon rainfall. "The Karnataka government's refusal to deliver water (1 tmcft) to Tamil Nadu is appalling.
Tamil Nadu has also written to the CWMA to request that its order be implemented," Stalin said, adding that the cumulative storage of four reservoirs in Karnataka is 75.586 tmcft, while the Mettur dam in Tamil Nadu has only 13.808 tmcft of capacity. The Stanley Reservoir in Mettur did not open on June 12 due to a lack of appropriate water for the growth of kuruvai (a short-term crop) in Tamil Nadu's Cauvery Delta. Stalin said Karnataka's decision not to enforce the CWRC's verdict is "condemnable" and "insulting" to Tamil Nadu farmers who rely on Cauvery water for irrigation. "The Tamil Nadu government would never tolerate any actions that harm the state's farmers.
The all-party meeting will debate the next steps that the state government should take," the Chief Minister explained. Stalin further stated that the government will contact legal experts in this matter. The Tamil Nadu government's decision comes two days after Karnataka stated that it can only provide 8,000 cusecs of water per day, rather than 1 tmcft as directed by the CWRC. Meanwhile, Paatali Makkal Katchi urged Stalin to chair the all-party meeting rather than Durai Murugan.