File photo of the Cauvery near Srirangapatna. The proposed commission will look into managing the allocation of Cauvery water to Bengaluru for the next 50 years.
Karnataka plans to set up a permanent water commission comprising technical experts on the lines of the Central Water Commission to recommend measures to the state government on water security and water dispute matters.
Announcing the commission at the state level, Deputy Chief Minister and Water Resources Minister DK Shivakumar on Sunday said that besides providing information on water disputes, the commission will assess the demand and availability of water in the state and determine the responsibility of farmers for water use. According to him, the commission will be established in the near future, with the fact that a law is needed to establish it.
“A bill in this regard will soon be introduced in the legislature. However, it is doubtful that it will be piloted during the next winter session,” he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister said the commission will study the current irrigation system and improvements or changes needed in the system, crop composition, floods and water management during disasters and emergency measures needed and recommend to the government. “The commission will have 10 to 15 technical experts. It will include representatives from irrigation and finance, environmental science and water resources experts, and progressive farmers, among others. The commission will play a critical role in ensuring water security and securing water resources for future generations.”
Among other things, the commission will look into water management while allocating Cauvery water to Bengaluru for the next 50 years. He will also study modern irrigation systems and sustainable water use.
Hearing Mekedat
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court hearing on the Mekedat drinking water project is on November 6 and the Deputy Chief Minister will go to Delhi. Stating that the project will not affect Tamil Nadu and the submergence area is also not large, he said that the project office has already been opened 2 km from Tamil Nadu border.
Mr. Shivakumar also said that Karnataka has already released 291 tmcft. of water during this year against the stipulated 147 tmcft. until the end of October. The stipulated annual emission is 177 tmcft. “Due to heavy rains, Karnataka has released twice the stipulated amount of water.
Publishing a book
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will release Mr. Shivakumar’s book Neerin Hejje on water issues on November 5. According to him, the book will serve as an encyclopedia containing details of international and national water disputes. Among those who will be present at the launch are former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, ministers MB Patil, HK Patil and NS Boseraju and senior advocate Mohan V. Katarki.
The Deputy Chief Minister said the book was written to highlight the history of irrigation, water management and challenges. He said the experience and legal issues he had witnessed as water resources minister in the current government and in the Janata Dal Secular-Congress coalition government were incorporated.
“Political narrative is not a part of the book. But developments related to river water have been recorded. The book contains details of inter-river inter-linking projects. Details of 14 Himalayan rivers, 16 flowing in South India and 37 inter-state river inter-linking projects have been provided.”
Published – 02 Nov 2025 20:56 IST
