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.
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Power tariffs under BESCOM to rise from May 1
Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.
The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.
As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.
"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.
"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.
Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.
