K'taka passes resolution to release water only for B'luru, Cauvery basin
Bengaluru: Karnataka’s Legislative Council on Friday passed a unanimous resolution to only release water for the purpose of meeting basic concerns of Bengaluru and for the towns and villages that fall under the Cauvery basin.
The resolution was moved by MLC S Ravi from the ruling Congress party and was adopted soon after with the party sticking to its stance of not releasing any water for Tamil Nadu, without naming the neighbour.
"The resolution is unanimously passed after carefully considering the needs of the inhabitants of the state of Karnataka whose interests are likely to be gravely jeopardized if water in the four reservoirs is in any way reduced, other than for meeting the drinking water requirements of inhabitants in the Cauvery basin including the entire city of Bangalore," said the council while passing the resolution.
Read: Cauvery belongs to TN as well: AIADMK on Karnataka resolution
Opposition parties, including the BJP said they supported the Congress’ decision and would stand by the government during the crisis.
"It is unfortunate that the state has to pass a resolution to safeguard our own water. Perhaps, the Supreme Court has not understood the facts of the situation and hence passed orders of such grave nature. But the BJP, based on this firm decision of the government fully supports the resolution," said BJP leader Eshwarappa.
Ahead of the session, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah met Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti in Delhi on Thursday, a day after the cabinet decided to defer the release of water and convene the legislature session amid escalating row between the two neighbouring states.
The Cauvery Supervisory Committee had on September 19 asked Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs per day from September 21 to 30, but the Apex Court had on September 20 doubled the quantum to 6,000 cusecs from September 21 to 27 after Tamil Nadu pressed for water to save its samba paddy crop.
It had also directed the Centre to constitute within four weeks the Cauvery Water Management Board as directed by Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal in its award.
In Tamil Nadu, Opposition party DMK on Thursday urged the state government to follow suit and discuss the next course of action over the water sharing.
