Karnataka suspends water release but assures compliance of SC order

Karnataka began releasing water following the apex court directive on November 1 to provide 9,000 cusecs daily till November 6 but suspended the release yesterday from KRS in Mandya district, the hotbed of Cauvery politics which has been badly hit by the stir against releasing water to Tamil Nadu.

Announcing the suspension of release, Thimappa said, ‘‘The state has taken steps to ensure 9,000 cusecs inflow at Mettur in Tamil Nadu till November 6, as stipulated by the apex court.’’ Specifically asked how the state would ensure compliance of the Supreme Court order, he declined to elaborate, saying, ‘‘There is higher natural flow in the intermediatory catchment between KRS and Mettur.’’ ‘‘We will also comply with the Supreme Court order of ensuring 6,000 cusecs daily at Mettur from November 7 to 15,’’ he said.

The cabinet, Thimappa said, had decided to request Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to convene a meeting of the Cauvery River Authority, of which he is the chairman. Chief Minister S M Krishna would write to Vajpayee, he said.

The Supreme Court’s November 1 order on water release came on contempt of court petitions filed by Tamil Nadu against Krishna and others for ‘‘wilfully’’ disobeying the court’s earlier order directing Karnataka to release water. Krishna has tendered an unconditional apology before the Supreme Court and assured compliance of its order. The court has deferred to November 15 the contempt of court cases.

The Chief Minister’s office also clarified that water was being released to Tamil Nadu.