Next course of action after its response, says Shettar at the end of all-party meeting
After discussions with political leaders, the Karnataka government has decided to submit a letter to the Prime Minister-led Cauvery River Authority to act swiftly on its request to withhold its September 19 order that directed the State to release 9,000 cusecs of water a day until October 15.
Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, who chaired an all-party meeting here on Saturday, said later: “We will fax our representation to the CRA since this is an emergent matter. The next course of action will be [decided] only after the response from the CRA. All parties and farmers’ organisations have demanded that no water be released now that we ourselves are facing distress.”
A week ago, the State filed a review petition under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, seeking an interim stay on the ruling until it was reviewed and set aside.
In a way, Saturday’s decision is a repeat of the exercise and comes after the Supreme Court’s Friday verdict that Karnataka abide by the CRA order.
Mr. Shettar, along with Minister for Water Resources Basavaraj Bommai, held detailed discussions with legal experts in New Delhi on Friday to finalise the State’s stand, especially since the State could face contempt action if it failed to implement the court’s directive. Consequently, informed sources in the government told The Hindu, the State could also release a certain quantum of water to avoid any legal tangle.
Meanwhile, protests and demonstrations were staged in the Cauvery basin districts of Mysore and Mandya.
The authorities have stepped up security for the Krishnaraja Sagar and Kabini dams after farmers’ representatives threatened to prevent water release to Tamil Nadu.
The outflow from the two dams has dropped to 2,000 cusecs from around 6,000 cusecs on Friday.
Gowda’s suggestion
The former Prime Minister, H.D. Deve Gowda, has suggested that the State government abide by the CRA order for three days and then appeal to the Prime Minister for a Central team to visit Karnataka to assess the storage in the Krishnaraja Sagar, Hemavati, Kabini and Harangi dams. Thereafter, it could decide on releasing water.
There is an element of politics in the issue, given that the State is heading for Assembly elections in May 2013.
Keywords: Cauvery water dispute, Tamil Nadu-Karnataka rift, inter-state river sharing, Karnataka all-party meeting, Cauvery River Authority, Manmohan Singh, distress sharing formula
BJP is the ruling party and Congress and the JDU are in the Opposition.
All are National Parties and they have to rise above regional interests
in addressing such disputes. These parties should not ignite the local
sentiments and play politics with an eye on the elections. Former Prime
Minister Deva Gowda's suggestion should be accepted and an all party
delegation can possibly meet the Prime Minister to press for any
amendment. All parties should be restrained in their approach so that
any form of violent protest is avoided.
Both Central government and CRA are being unfair to Karnataka for political reasons.
Did we stop water flow last year? Reason is simple, when we are suffering from drought how can Mr PM order us to release water to others. Sorry to hear the decision by our PM.
All rivers in In India is natural. So the flow of river would be . If
we reserve or divert the river, earth which flows will become may
fertilized but soil erosion will destroy the whole land. In the same
time drought may happen where the river been flown naturally! Making
artificial a vast climate change also will happen ! Authrities must
understand that artificially made canals all over India which made
soil erotion in vast and climate change in high ! In Kerala state With
the help of World Bank dug many canals where many people lost the
water in their well. Some rural area got water but it is too hot
because the water coming through the soil are hot so all cultivated
including cocunut trees are becoming fade alas falls down !
It should not be forgotten that our PM has initiated such disobedience.look at the issue of retail FDI. It has been communicated with his full authority that any state can refuse to allow FDI, while the centre has issued notification.Such contradictive behaviour from the head of Indian central government shall definitely encourage such undesired response.
The Supreme Court has rightly found fault with the Karnataka government, which had refused to comply with the order issued by the Cauvery River Authority, headed by the country's Prime Minister, to release 9000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. Rivers being natural resources of the nation, every riparian state should be allowed to reap benefit from them. Karnataka's stand in this regard is rigid, unjust and not in national interest. It is left with no choice but to accept the water release order issued by the CRA and endorsed by the apex court. Good neighbourly relations are basic requirements for national integration.
I dont understand how these political parties think. I mean they are
acting like as if its also a reform from the centre, and won't comply with
because it will hurt their vote bank.Its constitutional body with agreed
rights given to it in consensus by both the govts. And moreover I am
disappointed by the group so called "Cauvery Hitarakshana Samithi".They
have gone a step ahead by protesting against the orders of the apex
court itself. I mean who else would you respect in this country, if not
its justice.
It is unfortunate that some states are increasingly defying federal authority. It is
tantamount to constitutional violation. It sets a dangerous trend and undermines
democracy and federalism. The judiciary must come heavily on such States for the
nation to remain united.
what the foreign papers wrote about our P.M. became true,if he fails to take action against karnataka,he is the weakest P.M.of india
It was history and tradition that only delta areas were cultivating
land using the entire river water. After the advent of dams, people in
the upstream area also began cultivating their land. So the system of
‘sharing the river water’ came in to vogue. But Karnataka has
systematically increased their area of cultivation and built dam after
dam across Cauvery River, totaling four, to store the entire Cauvery
water for their utility. The people there were made to believe that it
is their river, their water and their right over its management. The
politicians and some regional outfits of Karnataka have made their
people to ignore the fact that the river water is not their production
but only a natural resource coming from the sky that should be shared
by all people living along the entire flow of the river. Thus
Karnataka has made up a stand that only the surplus water, if any,
after all its dams get filled, could be let to Tamilnadu. Such a
practice is called ‘draining’ and not ‘sharing’
By refusing to release water as per the directive of the CRA headed by the Prime Minister, the Karnataka Government has willingly earned a name as a rogue state. Though the Apex Court has come heavily on their irresponsible attitude, we have to wait and see whether they respect the court's advice. It is really unfortunate that the Central leadership of the BJP too have failed to advise their Chief Minister in Karnataka to respect the CRA directions only because of the vote bank politics.
Tamilnadu Government is in order demanding water from the Cauvery and also suggesting army intervention if the Karnataka government refuses to release water or fears any violent protests from their local thugs if they honour the advice of the Supreme Court. The Central government should also give adequate protection to Tamils living in Karnataka as they are the first targets of the rowdy elements of Karnataka whenever such inter-state problems crops up and the Karnataka Government becomes a mute spectator to such inhuman onslaughts.
All political parties in Tamilnadu should strengthen the hands of the Chief Minister in this issue and fight it out together sinking all political differences.
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