MYSURU: Karnataka released water to Tamil Nadu from the Cauvery, over and above the quota fixed for the month of June.According to officials of the state water resources department, Karnataka was supposed to release 21.25tmcftof water in June, but it released 28.5tmcft of water. “The state need not worry about the August quota in case rain recedes in the state, as we are supposed to release 50tmcft,” officials added.With the Cauvery and its four major tributaries -- Hemavati, Kabini, Harangi and Lakshmanathirtha -- in spate due to heavy rain in Kodagu and parts of Kerala between June 1and July 13, KRS dam in Mandya witnessed heavy inflow, and water was released to Tamil Nadu accordingly.Officials said they have also received confirmation that 28.5tmcft of water has reached Biligundlu water gauging station, on the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border, till Friday. This is also being monitored by the Central Water Commission.Water released from the Kabini reservoir takes oneand-a-half days to reach Biligundlu gauging station.Meeting todayChief minister HD Kumaraswamy has called for a meeting of all senior authorities of the department of water resources, to take stock of the situation. The state government is likely to finalize the crop pattern for the Cauvery basin areas, and is likely to continue a ban on water-intensive crops, sources added.However, farmers want the state government to release water to all canals at the earliest. According to Kodihalli Chandrashekar, president of Rajya Raitha Sangha, water was released only in a couple of canals till now. "Farmers want the state government to release water to all canals with immediate effect,” he said.Former water resources minister M B Patil has appealed to Kumaraswamy to utilize the water from Krishna in North Karnataka and also to fill neighbouring water tanks in view of the drought. “Following good rain in Maharashtra, Krishna is in spate across North Karnataka, and the state government should make the best use of it to help droughthit farmers,” Patil said.

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