CWRC asks Karnataka, Tamil Nadu to conserve Cauvery water for next year

New Delhi: The Cauvery Water Ragulation Committee (CWRC) on Tuesday asked both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to utilise Cauvery water judiciously and conserve existing water for next year.

In the meeting of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee chaired by its chairman Vineed Gupta, Karnataka said as of October 14, the cumulative flow at Biligundlu is 216.90 tmc feet as against the required stipulated flow of 132.27 tmc feet, a statement from Karnataka said.

"The excess flow at Biligundlu shall be adjusted

against stipulated flows in the subsequent period. It is hoped that the existing storage in the reservoirs and the favorable rainfall situation in the balance period of current water year would continue, so that the farmers of the Cauvery basin will be benefited," Karnataka said.

Tamil Nadu submitted that excess flow recorded at Biligundlu is due to the surplus from the major reservoirs of Karnataka.

The neighboring state requested the CWRC to direct Karnataka to release stipulated flows as per Final Award of Cauvery Water Dispute Teivunal (CWDT) as modified by the Supreme Court.

"Finally, the Chairman, the CWRC, directed that all the Party States shall utilize water judiciously and conserve the storages as carryover storage for next year, " the statement said.