The Cauvery Monitoring Committee’s (CMC) directive to the State to release water to Tamil Nadu has led to anger among the people in Mandya district.
Soon after the CMC’s directive was announced, the Mandya Zilla Raitha Hitharakshana Samiti decided to intensify protests against the directions of Cauvery River Authority (CRA) and CMC to release water to Tamil Nadu.
The former minister and one of the leaders of the samiti M.S. Atmananda, termed the CMC’s direction as a “death knell for farmers in the Cauvery basin”.
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The CMC met in New Delhi on Thursday to bring about a consensus between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over sharing of the waters of the Cauvery river.
The farmers in Karnataka are reeling under severe drought. Also, they are losing standing crops as the State has already released a huge quantum of water to Tamil Nadu from September 12 to October 8, Mr. Atmananda said.
Meanwhile, the samiti said that it would lay siege to Krishnaraja Sagar reservoir (KRS) near Srirangapatna to protest against the CMC’s order.
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Even after the Central team officials visited the State, the CMC had directed to release water from October 16 to 20.
The officials concerned from Karnataka, who attended Thursday’s meeting, had completely failed to convince the CMC, another member of samiti said. “The farmers will guard the reservoirs in the Cauvery basin. At least 20,000 farmers will lay siege to KRS on Thursday midnight,” he said.
Meanwhile, samiti president and former MP G. Made Gowda has warned Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar against complying with the CMC’s order.
“The CMC has no authority and rights to order the State to release water to Tamil Nadu. It has just recommended release of water,” Mr. Gowda told presspersons at his residence here on Thursday.
Protests
Meanwhile, on Thursday members of several organisations staged protests against the CRA’s recommendation in Mandya.