The tussle between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over the Kaveri river water continues. Due to deficient rains this monsoon, water flow in most of the basin's reservoirs has decreased and there is a possibility of acute shortage of water for drinking and irrigation in the coming months. Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Saturday that the state government would present the ground reality before the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and the Supreme Court on releasing Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu.

The chief minister said he has sought an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat to lead an all-party delegation aimed at the state's security. There is interest in this issue as well as other pending projects awaiting approval.

CM Siddaramaiah said that we do not have water to release, yet the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee has said that we (Tamil Nadu) should release 5,000 cusecs of water every day. First they said 15,000 cusecs, after our request they reduced it to 10,000 cusecs. Now after our appeal they met and said that 5,000 cusecs of water should be released. He said, Tamil Nadu has appealed to the Supreme Court demanding release of 24,000 cusecs of water, which Karnataka is not in a position to accept.

He further said that without water, where will we leave so much? We have to protect crops and provide drinking water. We will protect the interests of the state by protecting our drinking water needs and farmers' crops. We will present the ground facts before the Cauvery Water Management Authority and the Supreme Court.

The Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) has directed Karnataka to release 5,000 cusecs of water per day to Tamil Nadu for the next 15 days from August 29. CWMA took this decision based on the recommendation of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee.