D.O. Letter No. 14722/C.Spl.1/2015-, Dated 15-9-2015
The Government of Tamil Nadu, Public Works Department, through Chief Secretary K. Gnanadesikan, issued D.O. Letter No. 14722/C.Spl.1/2015- on 15 September 2015 to the Chairman of the Supervisory Committee on Cauvery. It asks for an immediate committee meeting and intervention to secure the Cauvery water releases that Tamil Nadu said were due from Karnataka under the Final Order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal. The letter concerns irrigation water for standing crops in the Cauvery delta and does not change land ownership, patta, registration or land use.
What the letter concerns
D.O. Letter No. 14722/C.Spl.1/2015-, dated 15 September 2015, was sent by K. Gnanadesikan, Chief Secretary to the Government of Tamil Nadu, from the Public Works Department. It was addressed to Shashi Shekhar, Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, and Chairman of the Supervisory Committee on Cauvery.
The letter responds to a proposal to hold the fifth meeting of the Supervisory Committee on 28 September 2015. Tamil Nadu asks for the meeting to be convened immediately instead because of an alleged shortfall in Cauvery water received at Billigundulu.
Tamil Nadu's stated position
The Government of Tamil Nadu makes the following claims and requests:
- The Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal defined the irrigation season as 1 June to 31 January of the following year.
- Karnataka drew water for summer irrigation during 2014-2015, which Tamil Nadu describes as contrary to the Tribunal's Final Order.
- For the 2015-2016 water year, Tamil Nadu says that it had received 72.817 TMC ft. at Billigundulu by 13 September 2015, against the prescribed 111.333 TMC ft.
- Tamil Nadu calculates the shortfall at 38.516 TMC ft. and asks the Supervisory Committee Chairman to advise Karnataka to make it good immediately.
- Tamil Nadu also asks that Karnataka ensure future releases in accordance with the Tribunal's Final Order.
Rainfall and distress claim
D.O. Letter No. 14722/C.Spl.1/2015- rejects Karnataka's description of 2015-2016 as a distress year. Tamil Nadu states that information verified with the Indian Meteorological Department showed normal rainfall in the Cauvery catchment of South Interior Karnataka, with a deviation of only minus 1 per cent as of 9 September 2015.
Who may be affected
The Public Works Department letter identifies farmers with standing crops in the Cauvery delta as the people facing possible hardship from inadequate irrigation. It seeks administrative action on interstate water releases. It contains no provision changing property title, patta, land classification, registration, planning permission or rights over an individual parcel of land.
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Common questions
Does this letter change my patta or ownership of land in Tamil Nadu?
No land ownership or patta change is set out in the letter. It deals with Cauvery water releases and irrigation for standing crops in the Cauvery delta.
How much Cauvery water shortfall did Tamil Nadu report?
Tamil Nadu reported a shortfall of 38.516 TMC ft. at Billigundulu as of 13 September 2015. It stated that 72.817 TMC ft. had been received against 111.333 TMC ft. prescribed in the Tribunal's Final Order.
What action did Tamil Nadu ask the Supervisory Committee Chairman to take?
Tamil Nadu asked the Chairman to advise Karnataka to make good the stated shortfall immediately and ensure future releases under the Tribunal's Final Order. It also requested that the Supervisory Committee meeting be convened immediately rather than waiting until 28 September 2015.
Why did Tamil Nadu reject Karnataka's claim that it was a distress year?
Tamil Nadu stated that the Indian Meteorological Department had identified normal rainfall in South Interior Karnataka, with only minus 1 per cent deviation as of 9 September 2015.
