What happened: CWRC chairperson Vineet Gupta’s defence of Cauvery operational releases
CWRC chairperson Vineet Gupta responded to Tamil Nadu’s criticism that Cauvery implementation bodies were not using a permanent, scientific formula for Cauvery water implementation. Gupta argued that states should devise and present their own formula.
Gupta defended Karnataka’s calculation for releases to Tamil Nadu for the next 15 days. Gupta’s explanation placed the downstream measurement-site requirement at 3,500 cusecs for the operational period.
Gupta linked the needed release to intermediate catchment conditions between key dams, describing the intermediate catchment as “very dry.” Gupta argued that “very dry” catchment conditions reduce natural yield at the measurement site.
To achieve the prescribed quantity at the measurement site, Gupta stated that Karnataka needed to release a larger volume from reservoirs. Gupta said Karnataka would release 6,000–6,500 cusecs from four reservoirs.
Gupta also cited scarcity in reservoir inflows, referencing a 60% deficit in Karnataka’s reservoir net inflow compared with long-term averages derived from 30-year data.
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