Cauvery row: 42 Karnataka talukas drought-hit, no water for cattle in Tamil Nadu, says SC Committee report

New Delhi: The high-level central technical team, led by Central Water Commission chairman G.S. Jha on Monday submitted its report to the Supreme Court wherein it said the situation is "grim in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

"In its report, the committee has stated 42 of the 48 talukas of Karnataka in Cauvery basin have been affected by drought.The team was constituted as per orders of the apex court to assess the realities in Cauvery basin areas in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

"Karnataka`s Mandy district is worst affected and has witnessed many suicides. No water in Tamil Nadu for cattle also. Standing crops in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are affected due to scarcity of water. Sugarcane farming in both the states needs to be discouraged," the report added.

The high-level central technical team had inspected Krishnaraja Sagar, Kabini dams in Karnataka, Mettur Bhavani Sagar dams in Tamil Nadu.

The GS Jha-led team had interacted with the PWD officials and delta farmers in Thanjavur Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur.

The farmers in Tiruchirapalli and delta regions told the team that samba crops will be damaged if water is not released into Cauvery by Karnataka.

Meanwhile, the delta farmers in Tamil Nadu are resorting to rail rook agitation today urging the government to set up Cauvery Management Board.