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Tamil Nadu doesn't need water from Cauvery River as it is already receiving excess water from Karnataka due to heavy north-east rains. This is what the Karnataka government is set to argue when it responds to the Tamil Nadu government's contempt plea filed over the Cauvery River water sharing issue in the Supreme Court.
Karnataka's response to TN's contempt petition states that there is no need to release Cauvery water when the neighbouring state is already receiving enough water from excessive rainfall.
As per the order of the Cauvery River Water Authority, Karnataka had to release 9,000 cusecs of water every day. This had led to large-scale protests across the state and the government was under tremendous pressure from the farming community to stop the release of water.
The Karnataka government felt that it was better to face contempt proceedings than the wrath of its own farmers and hence made the submission. However, it was saved by the timely rainfall and now hopes that this factor will help bolster its argument in court.
Incidentally, while farmers from Mandya and Mysore belts had earlier complained about lack of water, recently 300 acres of paddy crops have been destroyed in the Krishnaraja Sagar reservoir area due to heavy rains.
The damage was extensive in Virija and Chikkadevaraya canals, near Palahalli and Hosur villages, nearly 10 km from the Krishnaraja Sagar reservoir.
These factors can help the legal team of the Karnataka government argue its case in court.
A member of the team explained that while Tamil Nadu had demanded 9,000 cusecs of water, the state had received an excess flow of 18,000 cusecs of water.
"Technically, we have not released water as per the order, but then excess water is already flowing into Tamil Nadu. The north-east rains have been heavy. We have also assured Tamil Nadu that between October and January 38, we will raise the quantity of water to be released to them. If the rainfall continues to be this heavy, then there will be absolutely no problem," said a member of the legal team.