Former Prime Minister of India - Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Concluding remarks of the Prime Minister at the 6th Meeting of the Cauvery River Authority

~The State Governments have made their points. We all know that the country is facing one of the worst droughts this year and the Cauvery basin has been no exception. In such a drought year when the available waters have been very low, the distress situation has to be shared amongst all the basin States. Accordingly, the existing reservoirs have to be so regulated that the requirements are met optimally in both the upper and lower riparian States.

In the last meeting, we have taken certain decisions and the Supreme Court has also heard specific prayers of the States and passed interim orders. In regard to these directions, efforts have been made to release water from Karnataka reservoirs, but I am informed that at the end of January 2003, the inflows received in the Mettur have still been in deficit by about 16.5 TMC.

As per the present storage available in Karnataka reservoirs, the State may not be in a position to make good the entire deficit during the remaining period of Water Year 2002-03. On January 13, 2003 Chief Minister of Karnataka had assured me that he shall ensure 1200 cusec of water for the months of January and February 2003 which amounts to about 6 TMC. Tamil Nadu had requested for releasing the above quantity immediately in a few days. In pursuance to these mutual efforts, I am informed that about 3.3 TMC has been received at Mettur from January 20-28, 2003.

The requirements in Tamil Nadu are critical and crops need at least one more wetting. Keeping in view the urgent need of water for standing crops in Tamil Nadu as also the drinking water requirement in Karnataka, the Supreme Court has, while hearing an application of Tamil Nadu, ordered on 6.2.2003 that the State of Karnataka shall release sufficient water from its reservoirs so as to ensure an average inflow of 4500 cusec of water per day at Mettur till a final decision is taken by CRA. Since Tamil Nadu requires water now it will be appropriate if the same quantity i.e. 4500 cusec on an average is made available at Mettur for another 3 days. Thereafter, the inflows may be ensured by Karnataka as per the interim order of CWDT. Tamil Nadu will make proportionate releases to Pondicherry.~