Cauvery issue: No bandh tomorrow, farmers’ leader hints at riot

 

Despite the ruling of the Cauvery Supervisory Committee, the final decision on the quantum of water to be released to Tamil Nadu will be ascertained tomorrow by the Supreme Court.

 

The maximum quantum of water Krishnasagar Dam (KRS) can hold 124.80 feet. Currently, the dam holds just 83 feet of water. When the Supreme Court had given its verdict previously on September 12, the KRS had 20 tmc water. At present, it has only 12 tmc water, a matter of grave concern to Karnataka, which has been asked to release an even further quantum of water.

 

Cusec is a measure of flow rate of water and is an abbreviation for cu. Ft per second (which is equivalent to a flow of 28.317 litres per second) and 11,000 cusecs amounts to 1 TMC (thousand million cu.ft) water.

 

The Supervisory Committee’s direction to release more water from the Cauvery River to Tamil Nadu has resulted in protests intensifying in Mandya, Mysuru and surrounding areas.

 

At Sanjay Circle in Mandya, protesters blocked the Bengaluru-Mysuru Road for 20 minutes. The road was cleared for vehicular movement by the police.

 

No bandh:

 

Among rumours of protests in Bengaluru tomorrow, City Police Commissioner NS Megharikh has convened a meeting of Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCP) of all divisions. He clarified that there would be no bandh observed in Bengaluru tomorrow.

 

“Miscreants are trying to spread the rumour, but there will be no bandh tomorrow. Arrangements have been made to deploy police personnel to maintain law and order,” said Megharikh.

 

The police have deployed paramilitary forces at the Bengaluru Satellite Bus Stop, which saw violence during the bandh held earlier this month.

 

 

Dharna in Mandya, pestle movement

 

Cauvery Hitharakshana Vedike (Cauvery Welfare Forum) held a dharna in front of the Visvesvaraya statue in Mandya.

 

Protesters are holding a 'pestle movement' at Srirangapatna in Mandya. Hundreds of women gathered with pestles, urging the state government to stop releasing water to Tamil Nadu with immediate effect.

 

Riots ahead, says Madegowda

 

Leader Madegowda (Cauvery Hitharakshana Vedike) has threatened that the protests will turn violent if Karnataka does not get 'justice' after the Supreme Court verdict on Tuesday.

 

“There is an end to patience. We have been staging peaceful protests which have not yielded us any results. We do not know how the things will turn tomorrow. If the results are against Karnataka, the government should take steps to provide ₹25,000 compensation per acre to farmers as their crops will go dry without water. We will fight for our rights. We are ready to face whatever the consequences are,” said Madegowda.