Bangalore :Water Resources Minister M B Patil on Monday said that the State government has increased outflow of Cauvery water from Kabini and KRS reservoirs to Tamil Nadu in the last few days.
The Minister added that the move was to prevent any adverse impact on a legal battle being waged by the State before the Supreme Court on the water sharing dispute.
Replying to JD(S) MLA N Chaluvarayaswamy in the Assembly, he said the government has to comply with the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal award 2007.
Moreover, water has to be released to protect flora and fauna and ensure availability of drinking water.
As per the final award of the Tribunal, the State has to release 10 tmc ft of water in June, 34 tmc ft in July and 50 tmc ft in August. But owing to week monsoons, the distress sharing formula can be applied this year, he added.
Currently, inflow into Kabini reservoir is 25,338 cusecs, while 35,000 cusecs is the outflow and about 446 cusecs of water is being released by KRS reservoir.
The government will keep the interest of the State in mind while releasing water, he added.
Cheluvarayaswamy and other JD?(S)?MLAs from the Cauvery belt questioned the government as to why water should be released from Hemavthi when standing crops were withering in Mysore and Mandya districts and there was no water for sowing due to the delayed monsoon.
