Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday presented a grim reality of the four reservoirs in the Cauvery basin in the State Legislative Assembly, and said the special session was convened not to defy the Supreme Court directive but to seek the legislature’s mandate to safeguard the State’s drinking water interests.
In his 40-minute address to members, Mr. Siddaramaiah said: “This year, the State is facing more distress compared to last year. It’s not possible to implement the Supreme Court directive. The House met to deliberate on the issue and protect the State’s interests. The government is committed to implement the decision of the legislature.” The people of the State elected this House. The government is creation of the House. Not following the House’s resolution means dereliction of duty by the government, the Chief Minister said.
Noting that the Cauvery basin villages and towns, including Bengaluru, required 24.11 tmcft of water for drinking water requirements till May 2017, Mr. Siddaramaiah said the 2002 and 2012 national water policy had accorded priority for drinking water and not irrigation. “Farmers of all Cauvery basin States are equal. They have to survive.” But, Tamil Nadu has been demanding water for its second crop — Samba. But, the State has been facing shortage for drinking purposes. Therefore, the State reservoirs have no water to meet Tamil Nadu’s demand for water for irrigation, he said.
Unlike Karnataka, there was no deficiency of north-east rainfall in Tamil Nadu for the last five decades. Owing to normal rainfall in Tamil Nadu, the groundwater level was very high. But in Karnataka, farmers have to drill 1,000 ft borewells to get the water. Moreover, Tamil Nadu had not faced crop failure at all, Mr. Siddaramaiah said. But “our farmers have sacrificed crops to ensure drinking water. Let any problem come, my government will protect the interests of the people and farmers of the State.” The government will compensate farmers for crop loss suffered owing to deficient water and rains, he said.
Mr. Siddaramaiah also thanked the former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, former Chief Minister S.M. Krishna, former judges of High Court and Supreme Court, members of both Houses of the State legislature, and the public for supporting the government during the Cauvery crisis.
