Distress formula will be followed if there is no water: Water Resource Minister D K Shivakumar
Bengaluru, May 28: With the Cauvery Water Management Authority asking Karnataka to release 9.19 thousand million cubic water to the lower riparian states for June, the State government Tuesday said "distress formula" will be followed if there is no water and less inflow.
Water Resource Minister D K Shivakumar told reporters here the CWMA's decision was discussed with officials and the matter was also being examined legally.
"We will respect the court decision, there is no doubt about it. But keeping the rain sand inflow in mind we will take necessary action. If there is no water or there is less inflow we don't have an option, we will have to go by distress formula," Water Resource Minister D K Shivakumar told reporters here.
"We have informed our facts, we expect inflow this year as rains are beginning, in between there was a worry, now it (rains) has gradually started. If that happens we will abide by the order.
If there is no water, then we will have to follow distress formula," he said.
The decision to release the water was taken by the CWMA which was attended by the representatives of the Centre and the riparian states Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Puducherry.
"The Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) has taken a decision for the release of 9.19 TMC of water by Karnataka at the Biligundlu site for June this year," S Masood Husain, the chairman of the CWMA, said.
Shivakumar said, "if there is an emergency and if we are unable to take certain decisions due to issues, then we will call an all party meeting."
"I'm collecting legal opinion...keeping the interest of the state in mind and also abiding by the court's verdict we will take decisions," he said, responding to a question about review petition.
Commenting on the CWMA order, leader of opposition and BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa said if there is rain and there is inflow, there would not be any trouble in releasing water.
"As the order itself says about release of water if there is inflow, there is no reason to worry," he added.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Snowfall blocks two key roads providing alternative connectivity to Kashmir
Rajouri/Jammu (PTI): Traffic on the Mughal and Sinthan Top roads, which provide alternate connectivity to Kashmir, was temporarily suspended on Sunday due to light to moderate snowfall in the high-altitude areas of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.
However, traffic on the 270-kilometre Jammu-Srinagar national highway -- the only all weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country -- was plying as usual despite intermittent rains that ended the over one-and-a-half months long dry spell, they said.
ALSO READ: India overpowered by Minhas' big hundred and pacers as Pakistan clinch U19 Asia Cup
The Mughal road, which connects the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri with south Kashmir's Shopian, was closed for traffic as a precautionary measure after more than three inches of snow was recorded at Peer Ki Gali on Sunday afternoon.
A group of three tea vendors are left stranded on the road and efforts are on to evacuate them to safety, officials said.
After they were trapped in the snow, the vendors made passionate appeals through video messages urging the authorities to rescue them. The Border Roads Organisation has taken up snow clearance work and is trying to reach the stranded persons, officials said.
The Sinthan Top road, which connects Kishtwar and Doda districts in Jammu with south Kashmir's Anantnag, was also closed after moderate snowfall in the higher reaches.
Both the mountainous roads usually remain closed for several months due to heavy snowfall during winter.
