• Source:JND
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Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar emphasised that the state will not release water from the Cauvery river to Tamil Nadu under any circumstances. Addressing allegations of water being diverted to Tamil Nadu, Shivakumar clarified that recent discharges from the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) dam were solely for Bengaluru’s needs, not for the neighbouring state.

Shivakumar, who also serves as the Water Resources Minister and State Congress Chief, stated, “We have accounted for the flow to Tamil Nadu. Even if water is released today, it will take four days to reach there. We are not foolish enough to release water to Tamil Nadu,” he said while speaking to reporters on Monday.

Further explaining the situation, DK Shivakumar said that water was released to the Shiva Balancing Reservoir at Malavalli to maintain adequate levels for pumping to Bengaluru. 

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"From where we pump water to Bengaluru, the water level there was less. Water has to be at a certain level for it to be pumped, so as to maintain that level the water was released...for Bengaluru's water, it was done," the minister said as quoted by news agency PTI.

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The clarification comes amid protests by the ‘Raitha Hitarakshana Samiti’ in Mandya, accusing the government of releasing water to Tamil Nadu during a drought and statewide water crisis. The BJP has also accused the Congress-led government in the state, claiming it favours its alliance partner in Tamil Nadu, the DMK, over the interests of Karnataka’s farmers and citizens.