SOUTH
The Siddaramaiah-led government in Karnataka has decided not to release water to Tamil Nadu. The decision was taken at the emergency Cabinet meeting held in Bengaluru on Tuesday night.
The Cabinet upheld the common consent decision of not releasing water to Tamil Nadu, taken at the all-party meeting earlier in the evening, where leaders of all parties, except the BJP, took part.
The government has convened a special Assembly session on Saturday, where it will present the bill regarding its decision to not release water for the approval of the House.
“The government will try to get the bill passed unanimously in the session,” said sources.
Sources also stated that the state government felt it was ready to face legal action for disobeying the Supreme Court verdict to release water to Tamil Nadu.
“After the honourable Supreme Court’s verdict of September 20, the government had convened an all-party meeting and discussed everything elaborately. Everyone, except the BJP, attended the meeting. The all-party meeting asked for a joint session of both the Houses (Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council). The Governor will be requested to call for a session of both Houses at 11 am on September 23,” said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
The CM added that no water would be released to Tamil Nadu until the conclusion of the joint session, whose decision would be considered the state's final choice on the matter.
The government is hoping for a unanimous approval of its choice to no release any water to Tamil Nadu.
When questioned about the absence of BJP leaders, Siddaramaiah said, “We had invited them to the meeting. But as they have abstained I will speak to BJP leaders Jagadish Shettar, BS Yeddyurappa and KS Eshwarappa personally."
The Supreme Court’s verdict ordering Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of water for seven days from September 21 has been widely opposed throughout the state.
Indications from earlier consultations seem to imply that Karnataka will argue that the Supreme Court order is 'impossible' to implement.
Also Read: Cauvery row: What are the options before Karnataka?
The Cauvery Supervisory Committee had asked Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs per day from September 21 to 30 but the apex court doubled the quantum to 6,000 cusecs till September 27 after Tamil Nadu pressed for water to save its samba paddy crop.
The chief minister said Karnataka had placed certain facts based on ground reality before the Cauvery Supervisory Committee but it still passed an order directing the state to release 3,000 cusecs per day between September 21 and 30.
A bench of Justices Dipak Misra and U U Lalit has also directed the Centre to constitute within four weeks, the Cauvery Water Management Board (CWMB) as directed by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) in its award.