Notwithstanding the assurance given by the Karnataka government to protect the interests of farmers in the Cauvery basin, a local farmers’ outfits have called for a “Mandya bandh” on September 15 in protest against water release to Tamil Nadu. In a goodwill gesture, the Karnataka government agreed before the Supreme Court last week to release 10,000 cusecs of water from the Cauvery to Tamil Nadu till September 20, 2012.
Staging a dharna in Mandya, G. Made Gowda, president of the Cauvery Horata Samithi comprising a number of organisations, charged the Centre with “showing step motherly attitude towards Karnataka”.
Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar had on Wednesday appealed to people of the Cauvery basin to maintain peace and promised to protect the interests of farmers on Cauvery water sharing issue.
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Responding to protests that have been going on in parts of Mandya district and also in Davanagere by various organisations against water release to Tamil Nadu, Mr. Shettar had assured that the government would not sacrifice the interest of farmers.
He said he had already held a meeting of opposition leaders and another round of consultations will be held on September 15, 2012.