All parties decide no water for TN

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Leaders of all political parties arrived at a unanimous decision on Saturday that the state government should inform the Cauvery River Authority (CRA), at the meeting to the chaired by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on September 19, about its inability to release more water to Tamil Nadu in view of the acute drought in Karnataka.

Speaking to media after a meeting with the leaders, Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar said facts about a deficit in rainfall resulting in low storage levels in reservoirs would be presented at the CRA meeting in New Delhi.

Besides, the fact that more than eight million people of Bengaluru depend on the Cauvery for drinking water throughout the year would also be brought to Dr Singh’s notice at the meeting.

“We have decided to argue our case forcefully as we have a deficit in rainfall. More than 42 taluks in the Cauvery basin have been declared as drought-hit,” he added.

At today’s meeting, leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, Siddaramaiah, said the south west monsoon had almost ended its spell in Karnataka while Tamil Nadu was set to receive sufficient rain with the onset of the north-east monsoon next month.

"In such a scenario, we can definitely plead our inability to release water from the Cauvery. Moreover, Mettur dam in Tamil Nadu has sufficient water for “Samba” crops and to meet drinking water requirements for the next 45 days,” he said while pointing out that the state was in distress because of the acute drought. “When we don't have enough water, the question of release of water to Tamil Nadu does not arise,” Mr Siddaramaiah added.

JD(S) leader and MP (Mandya), N. Cheluvarayaswamy, said the state government had committed a blunder by agreeing to release 10,000 cusecs to Tamil Nadu.

“This is a right time to inform the PM in no uncertain terms that it will not be possible to release water as the state itself is facing an acute shortage," he added.

Mandya shuts down

The entire district of Mandya observed a peaceful bandh to protest state government’s decision to release 10,000 cusecs of water of the Cauvery to Tamil Nadu, on Saturday.

The call for a shut-down was given by the Cauvery River Protection Committee headed by veteran Congress leader G. Made Gowda.

Members of the committee and scores of farmers staged dharnas across the district and burnt the effigy of water resources minister Basavaraj Bommai as a mark of protest.

They were supported by members of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS), Mandya advocates association, and owners of commercial establishments.