Opposition stages dharna in both Houses

Amid uproar over the Cauvery issue, the government on Friday informed the Legislative Assembly that the State has started releasing water to Tamil Nadu from Thursday night based on the advice given by legal experts.

Making a statement in the House, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister S. Suresh Kumar said advocates arguing the case on behalf the State in the Supreme Court had suggested to honour the court directive. Tamil Nadu’s advocates had written to State government’s counsels stating that they would file a contempt petition against the government if the latter declined to release water, Mr. Kumar said.

The Supreme Court had directed Karnataka to release 10,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu from December 5 to 9. State Government’s counsel in the Supreme Court, Mohan Katarki, suggested to the government to release water in the interest of the State to fight the case legally. “Keeping in mind long-term interest of the State, water is being released to Tamil Nadu.”

Since the Cauvery water issue would come up for hearing in the Supreme Court in the coming days, the government has decided to release water, Mr Kumar said.

Dharna

Opposition members in both Houses of the legislature staged a dharna demanding immediate stoppage of water. Both Houses were adjourned for the day when members continued to raise slogans against the government. The Legislature did not transact any official business on Friday. Both Houses would resume proceedings on Monday.

As soon as the House met for the day, Opposition members trooped into well of the House demanding that the Government stop release of Cauvery water. Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah alleged that the BJP government had “cheated” the farmers by releasing water. Standing crops in the basin districts would wither if the Government implemented the court order. Mr Siddaramaiah demanded payment compensation of Rs. 25,000 per acre to farmers in event of crops withering.