Bengaluru: Reacting strongly to Cauvery Water Management Authority’s direction to Karnataka to release June month’s quota of 31.24 tmcft of water to Tamil Nadu, Water Resources Minister D.K. Shivakumar said dams in Cauvery basin should have that much of quantity of water to release to TN. “I will seek opinions of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and former Water Resources Minister M.B. Patil on the Authority’s direction,” he said.

Talking to reporters, Shivakumar alleged that Tamil Nadu had put forth a demand more than its requirement before the authority. The State government was not going to take any decision in haste, he said, adding, a meeting of elected representatives and farmers’ leaders from Cauvery basin will be convened on July 6 or 10 to discuss the future course of action.

Karnataka Budget is on July 5 and the government will invite political representatives and farmer leaders from the Cauvery basin area for a meeting to discuss the fallout, between July 6 and July 10, he said.

“The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) is also meeting on July 5 where we will present our case. All developments will be assessed.” He, however, said he would offer his comments on the Authority’s decision after holding discussions with the State’s representative in the Authority, Rakesh Singh.