New Delhi: Karnataka and Tamil Nadu yesterday sparred over Cauvery water sharing issue with the former objecting to the latter's claim to release more water for the next two months.
At the meeting of the Cauvery Supervisory Committee here, Karnataka objected to Tamil Nadu's claim for more water, saying it has released 215 TMC of water, exceeding the quota fixed by the Cauvery River Water Disputes Tribunal, sources said.
Countering Karnataka's claims, Tamil Nadu argued that water released by the upper riparian state was due to monsoon and sought 26 TMC of its share, as per the tribunal award for the next three months.
“We have released 215 TMC of water till October, which has crossed the quantum of 191 TMC awarded by the tribunal,” a senior Karnataka Water Resources Department official said.
There is no water deficit to Tamil Nadu, he noted.
Tamil Nadu, on its part, stressed that the excess water released by Karnataka was because of monsoon, which could not be considered as its share as per the award.
The sources said Tamil Nadu has emphasised that Karnataka must release 26 TMC of water between November and January, adhering to the tribunal award.
“Of the total 26 TMC, Tamil Nadu should release two TMC of water to the neighbouring Union Territory of Puducherry,” a Puducehrry Public Works Department official, who attended the meeting, told PTI.
Tamil Nadu has also demanded the formation of the Cauvery Management Board and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee immediately.
Besides, it had raised apprehensions over construction of two hydro electric power projects including Shivasamudram at Karnataka.
The supervisory panel is chaired by the Union Water Resources Secretary with representatives from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Pudducherry as its members.
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