Cauvery water dispute: Karnataka urges central body to review decision; will move SC, says Deputy CM

Reservoir levels have remained low, especially in Mandya district’s Krishna Raja Sagara dam, due to deficient rainfall in the ongoing monsoon. A recent decision of the state government, following directions from CWMA, to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu has come under fire from opposition parties and farmer groups.

CWMA has asked Karnataka to release 10,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu daily, for the next 15 days. Prior to this, the southern state had petitioned the Supreme Court for immediate release of Cauvery water.

Shivakumar said Karnataka would petition the Supreme Court Monday. “We have already requested the CWMA to review its decision, We have to protect the interest of the farmers while abiding by Court orders,” he said.

Farmers of Mandya and surrounding districts, who have hit the streets several times this month over release of Cauvery water, are scheduled to protest again Monday.

JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy said that Congress was busy with the ‘ghar wapsi’ of few MLAs and was not concerned about Cauvery issue. “I don’t know whether we will be invited for the all-party meeting,” he said.

After attending an event in Bommanahalli constituency of Bengaluru, he said that residents of some parts of the city were facing water scarcity and were buying water from private tankers.

“It is the duty of the government to provide drinking water and ensure security for farmers. There is a water shortage in the state capital. But the state government is sidelining Kannadigas and releasing water to the neighbouring state,” he said.