Bengaluru: The State Government on Tuesday decided to release Cauvery water as per the Supreme Court’s directive. The government has also decided to file a petition in the Supreme Court seeking modification of the judgment given on September 5. The decision was taken at a marathon meeting of all party leaders convened at Vidhana Soudha to discuss about the recent Supreme Court order.
Speaking to media persons after holding an all-party meeting to discuss the Supreme Court order, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the state government has decided to comply with the Supreme Court order even though Karnataka has been reeling under acute drought. “We have also decided to approach the supervisory committee seeking justice apart from filing a petition seeking modification of Supreme Court’s order,’’ Siddaramaiah said.
The chief minister said the Supreme Court had directed the state in September 2012 when Jagadish Shettar was the Chief Minister. “The Supreme Court had directed the state to release 10,000 cusecs. Expecting similar directive, advocate F S Nariman filed an affidavit stating Karnataka is ready to release 10,000 cusecs of water per day for six days but the Supreme Court had directed us to release 15,000 cusecs of water per day for 10 days,’’ the Chief Minister said.
Siddaramaiah said Karnataka had to release 94 TMC Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu from June to August end but released only 33 TMC of Cauvery water till August end. “Karnataka had to release 61 TMC of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, but could not do due to shortage of water,’’ he said.
He said that he had convened the all-party meeting to take all the leaders into confidence on the release of Cauvery water, but they walked out of the meeting when announced the decision to comply with the Supreme Court order. “BJP leaders walked out of the meeting today, but they have forgotten one thing. Jagadish Shettar, the present Leader of Opposition, did not even convene a meeting of all party leaders to discuss the release of Cauvery water when he was the chief minister,’’ he said.
Appeal to farmers
Siddaramaiah has appealed farmers not to damage public property while organizing protest against the Supreme Court order to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. “The state government will take all measures to provide drinking water to Bengaluru and other cities apart from ensuring water for standing crops in Cauvery basin,’’ he said.
Karnataka bandh on Sept 9
Kannada organisations have called for Karnataka bandh on September 9 in protest against the Supreme Court’s directive to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. “We are not in favour of calling for a bandh but it has become inevitable. All Kannada organisations have called for Karnataka bandh on September 9. I appeal all people to extend their support to the bandh on September 9,’’ said Kannada Chaluvali leader Vatal Nagaraj.
Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce president Sa Ra Govindu said that all film activities would be cancelled on September 9 in support of the bandh call given by Kannada organisations.
