Complying with the Supreme Court’s order to provide 2.44 tmcft of water to Tamil Nadu immediately, the Karnataka government on Saturday afternoon began releasing water amid tight security.
Irrigation Department officials, after getting a directive from the government, released water from the Krishnaraja Sagar reservoir (KRS) near Srirangapatna.
The outflow was 1,000 cusecs at 12.15 p.m. and it crossed 2,000 cusecs at 5.30 p.m. The officials said the quantum would cross 8,000 cusecs on Sunday.
Officials of the Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Ltd. (CNNL) and the Irrigation Department held a meeting near the reservoir before releasing water.
Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar and Minister for Water Resources Basavaraj Bommai held a discussion on Saturday morning and decided to comply with the court order, CNNL officials, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Hindu.
The release, however, prompted protests in the district. Members of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) gathered at the reservoir and staged a protest.
The farmers, led by KRRS leader K.S. Nanjundegowda, raised slogans against the government for sharing water with Tamil Nadu when Karnataka farmers were in distress.
Another leader, K.S. Puttannaiah, staged a protest near the Inspection Bungalow on the Bangalore-Mysore highway here. Vehicular movement was disrupted.
Members of the Kesturu Karnataka Janapara Vedike too staged a protest near the Nimishamba temple in Srirangapatna and shouted slogans. They urged Mr. Shettar to stop water release.
The former Chief Minister and president of the Karnataka Janata Paksha (KJP), B.S. Yeddyurappa, along with the former Ministers, Shobha Karandlaje and B.J. Puttaswamy, and others also staged a protest near the reservoir.
Similar protests were held in different parts of the district.
The Mandya district administration has clamped an order under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, besides banning entry of tourists to the Brindavan Gardens.
Keywords: Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal, Supreme Court
We live in the 21st century, and it would be nice if your reporters adhered to this reality. In the article above we read about water release in "tmcft" and in "cusecs".
This does not give the reader a clear indication of the picture at hand.
What was ordered by the SC, what was released and what is pending - in the same Unit of Measure, please?
Thanks.
I fail to understand the approach of Karnataka politicians.Why do they want to disobey
Supreme Court order?.Why do they want to act against the constitution of India?If they have
the guts,they can demand a separate country and face the music.Can any Kannadiga
explain?
Please Email the Editor