In a resolute stance, Karnataka’s Chief Minister Siddaramaiah declared on Wednesday that his government would take the matter to the Supreme Court to contest the recent directive issued by the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC). The directive, dated September 28 and extending until October 15, mandated Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu.
Siddaramaiah, after consulting legal experts, firmly stated that the CWRC’s order should be legally challenged before the apex court. He emphasized the state’s inability to comply, remarking, “We don’t have the water to release to Tamil Nadu.”
These statements came on the heels of Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s characterization of the CWRC directive as a “victory” for the people of Karnataka. Shivakumar explained that, historically, around 2,000 cusecs of water flowed to Tamil Nadu, and the directive only required an additional 1,000 cusecs. He also noted a recent increase in water inflow since Monday, which added to the optimism regarding the committee’s rejection of Tamil Nadu’s demands.
However, despite the government’s stance, opposition parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal (Secular), expressed dissatisfaction with the handling of the Cauvery issue by the Congress-led administration.
Former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa went so far as to liken the CWRC directive to a “death sentence” for Karnataka. He strongly objected to any further release of water to Tamil Nadu, asserting that it would undermine the state’s dignity.
JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy also criticized Shivakumar’s satisfaction with the CWRC’s recommendation, citing legal experts who argued that Tamil Nadu had excessively utilized water for irrigation, expanding its cultivated acreage. This discrepancy disadvantaged Karnataka’s farmers, who struggled to cultivate even a single crop.
In response to these developments, ‘Kannada Okkuta,’ a coalition of pro-Kannada organizations, called for a statewide bandh on September 29. Consequently, Bangalore University has postponed its second and fourth-semester exams to September 30 in anticipation of the bandh.
These developments signify the gravity of the Cauvery water-sharing dispute, a complex and contentious issue that has persisted over the years, impacting the lives and livelihoods of those residing in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu alike.
