Karnataka on Friday released water to Tamil Nadu from the Kabini dam, with an outflow of 5,000 cusecs, officials said.
The release comes against the backdrop of recurring disputes over Cauvery water sharing. Tamil Nadu had recently secured an order from the Cauvery Management Board directing Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs for the next 15 days.
In Karnataka, Kannada organisations had called for protests on August 2 opposing the directive. A day earlier, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had said water could not be released due to low storage in reservoirs.
However, speaking to reporters in Mysuru on Friday, Shivakumar said Karnataka’s dams were nearing full capacity and urged groups to withdraw the protest call, noting that “no one can control nature.”
Kabini dam’s full reservoir level is 166 feet, and the water level has reached 163 feet. With inflows continuing, 5,000 cusecs is being discharged as surplus water towards Tamil Nadu.
