Poor Cauvery release by Karnataka may aggravate Tamil Nadu’s water woes

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu may be in trouble with water release from Karnataka reservoirs being “unsatisfactory”, and Mettur storage dwindling to less than half its total capacity within a month. The Tamil Nadu government is all set to raise the issue before the Cauvery water regulation committee, scheduled to meet on Tuesday.
As per data available with TOI, there is a shortfall of 7tmcft of water until July 9 at Biligundulu, the inter-state border, while it was 3tmcft in June. “The release from Karnataka reservoirs has not been satisfactory in the months of June and July. If the situation continues, the government may reduce the quantum of water being released from Mettur and introduce a system to supply to canals judiciously,” said a senior government official. Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami opened the sluices of Mettur reservoirs on June 12, the customary date for release of Cauvery water to the delta districts.
Incidentally, the combined storage of four reservoirs across Cauvery in Karnataka, Krishnarajasagar, Kabini, Harangi and Hemavathi is around 50% of the total storage of 114.5tmcft. The average inflow at Biligundulu, which stood at 4538 cusecs (cubic feet per second) on June 1, when the water year began, dipped to 2,273 cusecs on July 8.
“The flow into Mettur reservoir is 257 cusecs as on Tuesday, and the total storage remains at 40.81%. Unless the southwest monsoon brings good rainfall in the Cauvery region of both sides, the situation is likely to be grim in the coming months,” said another official.
During its June meeting, the Cauvery water management authority, told the Karnataka government to release 9.19tmcft of water for June and 31.24tmcft for July as prescribed by the Tribunal and later modified by the Supreme Court if the flow in the river basin is normal. The authority is likely to meet in the monthend.
Sources in the regulation committee said the technical committee will look into the hydrometeorological observations on Wednesday. A member of the meteorology department will also participate. “The committee will look into all aspects. Since the Kerala government expressed its inability to take part in the meeting due to lockdown measures, no decision will be taken on anything that will adversely affect Kerala,” said a source. Good rainfall in Wayanad and Kabini regions will help Tamil Nadu get its due share.