Cauvery water row: Injustice, but will obey SC order, says Karnataka CM

BENGALURU: At the end of two brain-storming sessions on Tuesday--first with veteran Congress leaders and later with his council of ministers-Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reconciled to the fact that the government had to abide by the Supreme Court order on release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu till September 20 but took pains to work out a formula to ensure adequate drinking water to local residents till June 2017.

And to nip further trouble in the IT hub and other parts of Karnataka, Mr Siddaramaiah warned that anyone attempting to trigger violence would be dealt with an “iron fist”.

He told the media here the apex court's orders on September 5 and September 12 had forced the state government to take the most difficult decisions so far. However, in a federal system, one could not either violate or reject the directions of the apex court. 

"From the beginning, injustice has been meted out to Karnataka with respect to its share of Cauvery water. The first order put the state in difficult situation, while the second one is a direction which cannot be implemented. Our government has decided not to show disrespect to the judiciary. The court will hear the matter again on September 20 and the Special Leave Petition, challenging the final order of the Cauvery water disputes tribunal will come up for hearing on October 16. Keeping the situation in mind, the government will release water till September 20,'' he added.

As for people of Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mandya and other places, who depend on Cauvery water for drinking, they would not be deprived of their share till June, 2017. 

Mr Siddaramaiah, however, declined to divulge the details on the storage levels in reservoirs after releasing water to the neighbouring state or how the state government would manage the water crisis in future.  He said the state government would release water for one crop in Mandya region as per advice of Irrigation Consultation Committee (ICC).

On the law and order situation, he warned miscreants against taking law into their hands. “The government has decided to maintain law and order with iron fist. Stringent action will be taken against anyone taking law into their hands and damaging private or public property,'' he said.

Assuring safety of Bengaluru's citizens and linguistic minorities in the state, he appealed to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Ms Jayalalithaa to protect property and lives of Kannada speaking people in Tamil Nadu.

Reiterating his earlier appeal for PM  Narendra Modi's intervention in resolving Cauvery row, Mr Siddaramaiah said he had sought an appointment with the Prime Minister.

"I will personally appeal to the Prime Minister to convene a meeting of Chief Ministers of four states. Law and order is not restricted to Karnataka alone,'' he added. Stating that the entire problem was result of lack of a national water policy, Mr Siddaramaiah said he would urge the PM to announce one soon.