The Karnataka government has stated that it will approach the apex court, seeking modification of its order. This has triggered a wave of protests in the state, specifically in Cauvery river belt.
Advertisement
Protests are also being held by farmers in Mysuru and Hassan districts, fed by the Cauvery, demanding that Karnataka should not release water.
Local farmer bodies in Karnataka have called for a state bandh and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has scheduled an all-party meeting.
The chief minister also appealed to the people of the state to maintain calm and not to disrupt normal life by blocking roads and damaging public property. Some of the agitators have also burned Tamil newspapers. Bank services are also expected to take a hit. Private companies have either declared the day off or encouraged their employees to work from home.
Karnataka Cable Operators Association did not air Tamil channels.
Police said no major untoward incident was reported and the bandhremained by and far peaceful in the entire state.
He said “We have solidarity with our Cauvery basin farmers”.
Protesting farmers entered into the flowing waters upto the waist-level in Srirangapatna near Mandya during which some of them fell ill.
He has been admitted to a hospital, police said.
The pro-Kannada organisation Karnataka Rakshana Vedike staged a protest demonstration at Mekhri Circle and Kempegowda Bus Station at Majestic in the city.
Officials said with the bandh on the emotive Cauvery issue being supported by several organisations, unions and political parties, it was likely to be “total”.
Following this, protesters have intensified their agitation in Mandya and other parts of the State blocking several roads and forcing schools and colleges to shut down. The newspaper distributors have extended support to the protest and stopped the supply of Tamil newspaper. The Karnataka government has chose to approach the Supreme Court with a modification petition explaining its difficulties in implementing its order.
The apex court set up the supervisory committee in May 2013 as a pro-tem measure for implementing the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal award, which the central government notified in February of 2013 and six years after the tribunal declared the award in February 2007.
According to the sources, the state doesn’t have to release 15,000 cusecs as such, pointing out that 5,000 to 6,000 cusecs flows downstream to Tamil Nadu naturally.
Advertisement
The Tamil Nadu Government had earlier petitioned at the Supreme Court demanding a release of 50 tmcft water for irrigation.
