Defying the Supreme Court’s latest order, Karnataka on Wednesday night decided not to release more Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu till the state legislature discussed and decided on the inter-state dispute on Friday. However, Political parties and farmers bodies in Tamil Nadu condemned the Karnataka government’s decision for defying the apex court order on Cauvery waters and urged the Centre to set up the water management board immediately.
“The state cabinet has decided to defer releasing the river water to Tamil Nadu till the state legislature debates and decides on the apex court’s fresh order on Friday,” Karnataka’s Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said.
Siddaramaiah said the cabinet decided to convene the special session of the state legislature on September 23 in the backdrop of the apex court order on Tuesday, ordering Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of water till September 27 from Wednesday.
The cabinet also decided to request state Governor Vajubhai R Vala to convene a special session of the state legislature on September 23 to discuss the order, as the state is not in a position to release more water due to distress arising out of deficit monsoon rains in the river basin.
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) spokesperson Saravanan on Thursday welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision, where it has asked the Centre to constitute a Cauvery Management Board (CMB) within four weeks, and said that as per the new order, 6,000 cusecs of water to be released from Karnataka will not be sufficient for Tamil Nadu. Saravanan told that the Central government should intervene and constitute the Cauvery management board, so that there won’t be any loss of life or property in future.
“Even though the Supreme Court has ordered 6,000 cusecs of water has to be released from Karnataka. I don’t think that will be sufficient for the state of Tamil Nadu. But, the significant aspect is that the Supreme Court has directed the Central government to constitute Cauvery management board with four weeks, I think that is a very welcomed decision,” Saravanan said.
A DMK leader also echoed similar sentiments and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi must intervene in the matter and its president M Karunanidhi asked the PM to set up the Cauvery River Water Management Board immediately.
