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Karnataka may release more water for a week

By Gargi Parsai

New Delhi Jan. 14. Karnataka may raise the quantum of Cauvery water releases to Tamil Nadu to about 4,500 cusecs a day for one week within the agreed quantum of 6 tmcft (thousand million cubic feet) that will be ensured at the Mettur reservoir over the next two months ``as a goodwill gesture''. The release will form part of the flows from the intermediate catchment between the Karnataka reservoirs and the Mettur reservoir in Tamil Nadu.

Karnataka had agreed on Monday to ensure 1,200 cusecs of Cauvery water a day — equivalent to 6 tmcft — at Mettur for the next two months till March 15. Under the interim award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, Karnataka is required to release 4.67 tmcft during January and February to Tamil Nadu.

In the official level discussions held after the postponement of the Cauvery River Authority (CRA) meeting on Monday, the Karnataka team led by the Chief Secretary had agreed to ``some bulk release'', subject to approval by the Karnataka Chief Minister. The Union Water Resources Secretary, A.K. Goswami, who chaired the meeting, had declared that both the States would get back to the Centre ``within a day'' on raising the quantum of flows to Mettur in the first two weeks. The Ministry has informed the Prime Minister's Office about the decision taken in Monday's meeting.

During her separate meeting with Mr. Vajpayee on Monday, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, had requested the Prime Minister to ensure some immediate bulk releases from Karnataka to save the standing samba crops. The storage in Mettur reservoir is about 7 tmcft, while the collective storage in four of Karnataka's reservoirs is about 20 tmcft.

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