Cauvery row: Karnataka releases water to Tamil Nadu amid massive protests

 

Karnataka released the water after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah held an all-party meeting on Tuesday evening.

Karnataka released water to Tamil Nadu amid massive protests against the Supreme Court order. Farmers and pro-Kannada groups took to the streets on Tuesday in Mandya and neighbouring regions against releasing 15,000 cusec Cauvery water per day to the neighbouring state. 

Karnataka released the water after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah held an all-party meeting on Tuesday evening. The Bharatiya Janata Party and the Janata Dal (Secular) opposed the Congress government's move. 

"In light of the Supreme Court order, Karnataka will release water to Tamil Nadu despite severe hardship for water in the state," Siddaramaiah said.

"The Karnataka government was ready to release 10,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for six days. We stated this in the Supreme Court. The court has ordered us to release 15,000 cusecs for 10 days. We will obey the order," he said.

BJP state President Yedyurappa on Friday urged the Chief Justice of India to send a team of experts to study the situation in the Krishna Raja Sagar dam located in Mysuru before water was released to Tamil Nadu.

The government said that it had only 51 tmc water in the reservoir, which is only enough for drinking purposes. Legally, the state is bound to release 192 tmc to Tamil Nadu between June and May, of which it has only released 33 tmc so far. 

We will try to fulfil the drinking water needs of Bengaluru, Mysuru and Mandya and will also give water to our farmers. The farmers need not worry," Siddaramaiah said. He also said that the Karnataka government will be filing a review petition in the Supreme Court.

Violence marred daily life in Mandya on Tuesday as various groups protested against the order of the apex court. Tyres were burnt, Bengaluru-Mysuru highway was blocked and government buildings were damaged. Almost 2,500 policemen were deployed to bring the situation under control. 

Various groups have called for Karnataka bandh on Friday, Sept. 9.

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