The Mandya Zilla Raitha Hitarakshana Samiti unanimously passed a five-point resolution here on Sunday seeking to protect the interests of farmers in the State, and urge the Union government not to succumb to ‘pressure politics’ of the Tamil Nadu government.
Samiti members, who are staging a “continuous protest agitation” against releasing water to Tamil Nadu from reservoirs in the State, held an emergency meeting near Sir M. Visvesvaraya statue here.
The resolution was presented by samiti president and the former MP G. Made Gowda.
Its first point was to congratulate the State government for deciding to express its inability to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu at the Cauvery River Authority meeting scheduled for September 19 in New Delhi.
The State came to this decision at a meeting on Saturday.
Poor rain
Second, the samiti urged the State government to apprise Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who will chair the CRA meeting, on the situation in the State because of the failure of the monsoon.
Third, the Samiti urged all MPs and Union Ministers from the State, and Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar to tender their resignation if the outcome of the CRA meeting goes against the State.
Fourth, the drought in the State was unprecedented and water in Krishnaraja Sagar and other reservoirs in the Cauvery basin was not sufficient for irrigation and drinking, the samiti pointed out. But, the Mettur dam in Tamil Nadu had around 46 tmcft of water, which was sufficient for ‘samba’ crop. Besides, Tamil Nadu would get rain soon. Hence, the State should not agree to Tamil Nadu’s demands.
Finally, the samiti decided to intensify their protest against releasing Cauvery water, from September 19. “If the CRA meeting’s outcome is against the State, we will intensify the protest,” Mr. Made Gowda said.
The samiti decided to send the resolution to all MPs and Union Ministers from the State, and Mr. Shettar.
