BENGALURU: As Tamil Nadu's PWD minister Edappadi S Palanisamy, the Jayalalitha appointed interlocutor from the southern state heads for Delhi, all eyes will be on state Chief Minister Siddaramaiah as Union Water Resources minister Uma Bharti attempts to douse the fire between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka on the Cauvery water row on Thursday.
Karnataka has defied the Supreme Court's order on releasing water to the neighbouring state for the second time in a week, with Mr Siddaramaiah taking a stand that his government would await the outcome of this tripartite discussion before it accedes to the apex court's order for release of 6,000 cusecs for three days beginning Tuesday, September 27.
The government's move comes after a meeting with leaders of all political parties and the cabinet with the Chief Minister reiterating that his administration had no intentions of defying the court but had to respect a unanimous resolution adopted by the state legislature on September 23.
"I will participate in the meeting convened by the Union Minister, and explain the ground realities. The state needs water for drinking purposes. The release of water has been deferred by a day. We will take the next decision based on the outcome of Thursday's meeting," he announced.
Water release: No decision yet
For the second time in a week, the state government decided to defy the Supreme Court’s order on flow of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu even as the Union government convened a meeting of ministers of the two riparian states in New Delhi on Thursday to find a solution to the dispute.
On Wednesday, the government adopted a stand that it would await the outcome of the meeting to be held in Delhi. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who consulted leaders of all parties, repeatedly stated that his government had no intentions of defying the apex court’s order while maintaining that a unanimous resolution adopted by the legislature could not be overruled. “I will participate in the meeting convened by the Union Minister, and explain the ground realities. The state needs water for drinking. As per a suggestion made during a meeting of leaders of all parties, release of water has been deferred by a day. The government will take the next decision based on the outcome of Thursday’s meeting,” the CM added.
Opposition leader Jagadish Shettar speaks at an all-party meeting convened on the Cauvery issue in Bengaluru on Wednesday. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Union ministers Sadananda Gowda and Ananth Kumar were present.
When asked if he would be ready to release water after Thursday’s meeting, Mr Siddaramaiah said he would take everyone (Opposition leaders) into confidence before taking the next decision.
Meanwhile, official sources said the government would stick to its stand adopted in the legislature on retention of 27 TMC feet water for drinking. During the meeting with leaders of all parties, some discussion was witnessed about increased inflow during the last three days, resulting in a marginal increase in the storage levels.
‘Celebrate Dasara only symbolically’
Agitations continued in Mandya on Wednesday against the Supreme Court’s order to release 6000 cusecs water for three days to Tamil Nadu. Farmers’ leader K.S. Puttannaiah said, “When there is no water how can we release water? It was a unanimous resolution not to release water. Come what may, the state should not release water.”He added that Dasara this year should only be celebrated symbolically by performing poojas. He also felt that Mandya MLA and actor-politician Ambareesh should have been with people of the district at this juncture. Members of Cauvery basin union committee protested and said that all 28 MPs should bring pressure on the President to intervene. They will protest in front of the residences of 28 Lok Sabha MPs.
