K'taka has water only for drinking needs, water release decision rests with CWMA: Minister

Bengaluru, Jul 17 (PTI) Karnataka Irrigation Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Friday said the state currently has water only to meet its drinking needs and that any decision on releasing Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu rests with the Cauvery Water Management Authority. The minister was responding to a question regarding a recent meeting of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) about sharing of Cauvery river water. "At present, we have water only for drinking purposes. Let us wait for some more time. Rains may come and more water may come to dams," he told PTI videos. Responding to a question on Tamil Nadu's demand for more than 30 TMC of water from Karnataka, Reddy said, "They will make their demand, but the decision rests with the Cauvery Water Management Authority. It has to decide whether the water should be released or not." Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu's opposition DMK has demanded that the Centre immediately constitute a dedicated tribunal to resolve the Mekedatu dam dispute. In response, Reddy said, "It is left to them." Asked about the Supreme Court extending the deadline for conducting elections across five city corporations in Bengaluru to December 2026, the Minister, replied, "On our request, the SC has granted the state government time till December 31. We have to complete the process within that period. Earlier, we were required to complete it by August, but we approached the Supreme Court seeking more time," he said. The top court had earlier set August 31 as the deadline for completion of the elections. In its plea, the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) had said the whole administrative machinery and human resources of the five city corporations were fully engaged in the SIR exercise. PTI AMP ROH