In a significant development, the Karnataka government has issued an order to fully implement the Supreme Court’s 2018 directive, reserving 24 TMC (Thousand Million Cubic Feet) of Cauvery water annually for drinking water purposes in Bangalore and its surrounding areas. This decision comes after years of non-compliance with the court’s mandate, which previously allowed only 18 TMC of water for the city.
Deputy Chief Minister (DCM) D.K. Shivakumar announced the government’s intention to comply with the Supreme Court order at Karnataka Bhavan in Delhi. He stated, “In 2018, the Supreme Court had stipulated that 24 TMC of water could be used for drinking water purposes in Bangalore. But until now, no action had been taken in this matter. Now, by utilizing the remaining 6 TMC water, we have decided to use the full 24 TMC for drinking purposes.”
Shivakumar also revealed that the Karnataka government is actively discussing the Mekedatu Dam issue during the 89th meeting of the Cauvery Water Management Authority. He stressed that the issue of water distribution and availability would be fully disclosed during a demonstration before the authority.
Addressing concerns raised by Tamil Nadu, Shivakumar stated, “Our first priority is to ensure drinking water supply in Bangalore, as directed by the Supreme Court. We will not relinquish our rights and will adhere to the court’s order. We are making every effort to reserve an adequate amount of water in the KRS (Krishnarajasagara) reservoir and throughout the Cauvery basin.”
Regarding Tamil Nadu’s proposals to link rivers within their state, Shivakumar noted, “It is an internal matter for Tamil Nadu. We also plan and allocate a fixed amount of water to them. Therefore, Tamil Nadu should not pose any impediment to us.”
This decision by the Karnataka government to adhere to the Supreme Court’s water allocation order is expected to significantly impact water distribution in the region, ensuring a more equitable supply for Bangalore and its surroundings. The authorities have called on the Supreme Court and concerned parties to support and facilitate the Mekedatu project, which aims to alleviate water scarcity issues and benefit the state of Tamil Nadu as well.