Lok Sabha Question No. 3433 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-20
Subject: Water available at various Reservoirs in Karnataka
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Dr. K Sudhakar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3433

ANSWERED ON 20.03.2025

## WATER AVAILABLE AT VARIOUS RESERVOIRS IN KARNATAKA

3433.   DR. K SUDHAKAR

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of total cusecs of water available at various reservoirs in Karnataka;
- (b) whether the available quantum of water is sufficient to meet the impending summer in Karnataka and if so, the details thereof along with the action taken/being taken by the Government to ensure the water availability in the State; and
- (c) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to regulate commercial extraction of groundwater and unrestricted usage of water from reservoirs for industrial purposes?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

- (a) The details of water storage available at the four designated reservoirs in the Cauvery basin in the State of Karnataka (as on 13.03.2025) are given as below:

| Reservoir         | Live Storage at FRL (in TMC*)   | Live storage (as on 13.03.2025) (in TMC)   |
|-------------------|---------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
| Karnataka         | Karnataka                       | Karnataka                                  |
| Krishnaraja Sagar | 45.051                          | 28.275                                     |
| Kabini            | 15.667                          | 8.825                                      |
| Harangi           | 8.073                           | 3.198                                      |
| Hemavathy         | 35.76                           | 18.966                                     |
| Total             | 104.551                         | 59.264 (56.68%)                            |

(* TMC: Thousand Million Cubic Feet)

- (b) As per the final Award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT), as modified by the Hon'ble Supreme Court, the 'Irrigation Season' has ended on 31.01.2025 for the current water year 2024-25 (water year runs from 1 st June to 31 st May).

The available quantum of water in the four designated reservoirs in the Cauvery basin in the State of Karnataka is sufficient to meet its requirement towards drinking water, industrial and environmental needs during the impending summer period of 2025.

(c) Water  being  a  state  subject,  the  regulation  and  management  of  ground  water  is  primarily  the responsibility  of  State  Governments.  In  Karnataka  State,  the  State  Government  has  put  in  place  their  own regulatory mechanism for regulating ground water abstraction cum usage in their respective jurisdiction.

State Ground Water Directorate, Government of Karnataka has informed that the Karnataka State has enacted a  groundwater  regulation  framework,  namely  the  Karnataka  Groundwater  (Regulation  and  Control  of Development and Management) Act, 2011 and Rules 2012. There is a restriction to drill a new bore well in the notified taluks.

- i. As per section 11 of the Act 2011, prior permission from the appropriate authority should be taken to drill a new bore well in the notified area.
- ii. The registration of Existing Bore wells in notified area is made compulsory with the Authority.
- iii. Registration of drilling rigs is made compulsory to drill bore wells in any part of the state. The registration certificate is issued in form- 7A by the Karnataka Groundwater Authority.
- iv. Permission  /No  Objection  Certificate  should  be  obtained  from  the  Karnataka  Groundwater Authority for commercial exploration of Groundwater in the state.
- v. To  create  awareness  among  public  about  the  judicious  usage  of  Groundwater,  awareness programs are being conducted for Public and students in Schools/ Colleges.
- vi. The awareness about small children falling into abandoned and failed bore wells and to avoid such fatal accidents, hoardings and flex boards are installed at places where public often visit and by distributing groundwater pamphlets.
- vii. Any violator of the provisions of act and Rules are liable for punishment with fine up to 5000/and /or six months imprisonment.
- viii. Government of Karnataka has passed the amendment Bill called 'The Karnataka Groundwater (Regulation, Control of Development and Management) (Amendment) Act 2024' to enact a law to prevent bore well accidents and deaths.

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