Cauvery dispute: Parched Karnataka burns fast

Mandya and Mysore, however, did not wait for Krishna’s tough talk and erupted. Protesters set fire to the engine of the New Delhi-bound Swarna Jayanti Express. A Congress worker attempted self-immolation in Mysore even before the court’s decision had come through.

Farmers attacked the train near Maddur but police stepped in to prevent the fire from spreading. Some A-C coaches were stoned and another train bound for Mysore detained. Police said no passenger was injured.

Farmers and students blocked the Bangalore-Mysore road, forced shops to close down and threw burning tyres on the roads.

A truck registered in Tamil Nadu was burnt and legislator D.C. Thamanna roughed up near Maddur. The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation withdrew buses from Mandya district.

Mandya is Krishna’s home district and was hit by violence after the state released water to Tamil Nadu earlier. The supply was suspended after a farmer killed himself in protest.

G. Madegowda, chief of the Committee for Protection of Mandya District Farmers’ Interests and a former MP, said an all-party meeting called by the Chief Minister in Bangalore tomorrow would decide on the next action.

Earlier in the day, a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice B.N. Kirpal said: ‘‘Water is directed to be released by Karnataka in the manner indicated in the September 8 order of CRA headed by the Prime Minister.’’ The bench adjourned hearing on the contempt petition to October 24.

According to Krishna, the Central Water Commission’s gauging station has reported a daily inflow of 5,000 cusecs at Biligundlu on the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border.

Between this point and the Mettur catchment in Tamil Nadu, about 1,825 cusecs would be the daily yield. About 6,825 cusecs would reach Mettur dam, he said.

Krishna has urged the Prime Minister to call an emergency meeting of the Cauvery River Authority to consider the Cauvery Monitoring Committee (CMC)’s report.

The CRA meeting was essential, he said, because only it could effect any change in the quantum of water release.

The CMC, which visited reservoirs in both states, has said in its report to Vajpayee that Karnataka’s live storage is 45 tmc ft, against a requirement of 67.39 tmc ft. Mettur’s live storage is 13.305 tmc ft, against a requirement of 63 tmc ft.