“The Cauvery River Authority last met on 10.2.2003 and its meeting is long overdue.

In my D.O. letter dated 17.10.2011, I had requested you to issue instructions to the Ministry of Water Resources to notify the Final Order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal dated 5.2.2007 in the Gazette of India and to place in position the Cauvery Management Board for the effective implementation of the Final Order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal.  However, the Minister of Water Resources informed me that it would be appropriate to consider notification of the Order dated 5.2.2007 of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal once the matter is disposed of by the Supreme Court.

I would like to bring to your notice that the Government of Karnataka is not ensuring the flows in the Cauvery as per the monthly pattern prescribed in the Interim Order in force or as per the Final Order dated 5.2.2007 of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal in the crucial months of June to September. 

Further, the Government of Karnataka has been unjustly utilising the water for summer irrigation from February to May by depleting the storage in its 4 major reservoirs.  The combined gross storage in the 4 major reservoirs of Karnataka as on 1^st February, 2012, was 58.50 TMC ft.  The combined gross storage in the 4 major reservoirs as on 14.5.2012 is 28.176 TMC ft.  The Government of Karnataka has depleted a storage of about 30.33 TMC ft. from 1.2.2012 to 14.5.2012, besides utilizing the flows of about 11 TMC ft. Thus, the total utilization from 1.2.2012 to 14.5.2012 is about 41 TMC ft.  Due to depletion of storage during summer months, the Government of Karnataka impounds all the initial monsoon flows in its reservoirs and releases water only when they start surplusing, thus affecting the inflows into the Mettur Dam, which consequently affects the Kuruvai crop very badly and also delays the cultivation of the Samba crop.

As you are aware, the finalization of the Distress Sharing Formula evolved by the  Central Water  Commission is eluding a  solution  which  has ultimately deprived Tamil Nadu of adequate water which should have been released by Karnataka either as per the Interim Order of the Tribunal or by the formula evolved.  The Cauvery Monitoring Committee in its 24^th meeting had decided to refer the formula to the Cauvery River Authority for consideration when noticeable distress condition occurs in future.  Such a distress situation may arise at any time.

There is another issue which requires immediate consideration by the Cauvery River Authority.  The Interim Order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal which is in force specifies that the Government of Karnataka shall not increase its area under irrigation beyond 11.20 lakh acres.  The Government of Karnataka is not furnishing yearwise details of the area under irrigation.

In the circumstances, I request you to kindly convene the meeting of the Cauvery River Authority forthwith to decide the issues.