Karnataka bends to SC, agrees to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to TN till Oct 6

A day after the Karnataka assembly passed a modified resolution to release water for farmers in the Cauvery Basin, the state on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that it will implement the order to release 6,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu from October 1 to October 6.

Karnataka Counsel Fali Nariman stated that by October 6, Karnataka would have released an aggregate quantity of 36,000 cusecs to its neighbouring state.

On Monday, the Karnataka Assembly in its special session passed the resolution and argued that due to the increase of water in the four reservoirs of the basin from 27.6 tmc to 34.13 tmc, it decided to use water not only for drinking but farming purposes as well.

On September 23, the state legislature, citing acute shortage of water, had unanimously resolved to reserve waters of the Cauvery river for drinking purpose of the people in the state.

The apex court had on September 30 directed Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu from October 1 till October 6 and asked the CWMB to visit both states and file a report on the "ground realities" by October 6.