BENGALURU: The Karnataka Government declared there was no question of releasing water to its neighbouring state Tamil Nadu since it did not have enough for its people. The statement will possibly put it in a face-off with the Supreme Court that had ordered it to release 2,000 cusec of water every day.
Karnataka water resources minister MB Patil said the state wouldn't comply with the court orders. “Where do we release 2,000 cusec water from? Let me make it very clear, we have 3-4 TMC shortage to cater to the drinking water needs of Bengaluru, Mysuru & other towns and villages,” he said. He explained that things would have been different if the state had water and did not release it. “But we do not have water and there is no question of release.”
As per the Central Water Commission in Delhi, the water level in the state's major water reservoirs was 37 per cent less than the normal. However, the crisis runs much deeper in Tamil Nadu, where 80 per cent of its reservoirs are deficient.
This would be the second time Karnataka defies the top court. Last October, the state government had refused to release water to TN, in compliance with the SC's directive to release 6,000 cusec of water for 6 days. It later did step back after the court berated the authorities.
