Bommai urges Karnataka not to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu amid reservoir concerns

Former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai urged the state government not to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, citing low reservoir levels and drinking water needs. He also criticised Karnataka's representation before the Cauvery authorities and called for protecting farmers' interests.

New Delhi/Bengaluru: Former Karnataka Chief Minister and MP, Basavaraj Bommai, on Thursday urged the state government not to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu under any circumstances, stating that Karnataka currently has water reserves sufficient only for drinking purposes.

Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Bommai said it was the responsibility of the state government to safeguard the interests of Karnataka’s farmers and ensure adequate drinking water supply within the state.

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“The water available in our reservoirs at present is sufficient only to meet Karnataka’s drinking water requirements. Therefore, water should not be released to Tamil Nadu under any circumstances,” he said.

The BJP leader criticised Karnataka’s legal team and the state’s representation before the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC), alleging that they had failed to effectively present the state’s case.

“This is a long-standing dispute, but the state’s representatives have not forcefully placed Karnataka’s ground realities before the authorities. That is why Tamil Nadu continues to exert pressure for water release,” Bommai alleged.

He said he had spoken to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar regarding the issue and claimed that the Chief Minister shared similar concerns about the state’s water situation.

Emphasising the need to protect the interests of farmers, Bommai noted that protests were already being held across Karnataka over the Cauvery issue.

“It is the duty of the state government to protect the interests of our farmers. During our tenure, when similar orders were issued, we stood firm and did not release water. The present government should also take a strong stand, safeguard the interests of farmers and drinking water needs, and continue its legal battle,” he said.

Bommai’s remarks come amid growing political tensions over the Cauvery water-sharing dispute following the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee’s recent directive asking Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of water per day to Tamil Nadu for 15 days.

The issue has sparked protests by farmers’ groups, Kannada organisations, and Opposition parties across Karnataka, with concerns mounting over the impact of deficient monsoon rainfall on the state’s reservoirs.