Bengaluru – Various organizations in Bengaluru have called for a citywide bandh (shutdown) in protest against the release of Cauvery river water to the neighboring state of Tamil Nadu. The directive, issued by the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA), mandated Karnataka to extend the release of 5,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for an additional 15 days.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has affirmed that his government will not seek to curtail the “Bengaluru bandh” called by certain farmers’ organizations on Tuesday, as tensions escalate over the release of Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu.
Earlier this week, Siddaramaiah implored Prime Minister Narendra Modi to mediate in the longstanding dispute between the two states regarding the Cauvery river’s water allocation. “The prime minister holds the authority to summon representatives from both states and hear their arguments. Given this context, we have made an appeal for the Prime Minister’s intervention,” he stated.
The CWMA’s directive instructed Karnataka to maintain the release of 5,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for an additional 15 days. However, officials contend that there is an insufficient water supply available to comply with this order.
The CWMA’s directive mandated Karnataka to sustain the discharge of 5,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for an additional 15 days. Nevertheless, officials have emphasized that there is an inadequate water supply to fulfill this requirement.
The dispute over the allocation of Cauvery river water between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu traces its origins back to the colonial period under British rule. A resolution was reached in 1924 when the princely state of Mysore and the presidency of Madras agreed to a compromise.
This agreement granted Mysore the authority to construct a dam in Kannambadi village to store 44.8 thousand million cubic feet of water, with a review scheduled after 50 years. However, following India’s independence, both states repeatedly brought the dispute to the Supreme Court without achieving a resolution.
In 1990, the Indian government established the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) with the goal of settling water disputes among the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, and Puducherry. The CWDT issued a temporary directive to Karnataka, mandating the release of 205 million cubic feet of water to Tamil Nadu on a monthly or weekly basis.
Prominent Congress leaders in Karnataka have underscored that there is no surplus water available for release after the CWMA’s directive to provide water to Tamil Nadu. “Let’s put aside political affiliations and unite in safeguarding our state, language, water, land, and culture. The situation is critical, and there is no emergency formula in place,” asserted Siddaramaiah.
Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar, responsible for water resources, disclosed that they possess only one-third of the required water quantity. “We don’t even have enough water for drinking. We have discussed this with all our parliament members, who have pledged their support to our cause. We are petitioning the Supreme Court for justice. I believe justice will prevail,” added Shivakumar.
The Supreme Court recently declined to take action regarding the CWMA’s directive instructing the government to release 5,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu. A three-judge panel stated that it had no intention of considering Tamil Nadu’s appeal challenging the CWMA’s decision.
The bench emphasized that the CWMA and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) must conduct a comprehensive assessment, taking into account factors such as drought conditions and insufficient rainfall, before issuing directives. Consequently, the Supreme Court maintained its stance of not intervening in the order instructing Karnataka to release 5,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu.
Durai Murugan, a prominent DMK leader from Tamil Nadu, pointed out that Karnataka has consistently rejected proposals presented by Tamil Nadu in the Cauvery water-sharing dispute. He stressed that any rights secured by Tamil Nadu in this matter have been attained through legal means, primarily by pursuing the matter in the Supreme Court.
Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda expressed the opinion that the ongoing dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu cannot be resolved through legal channels alone. Instead, he suggested that a resolution can only be reached through direct negotiations and discussions between both parties.
In the midst of the ongoing Cauvery water-sharing dispute, renowned Kannada actors Darshan Thoogudeepa and Kichcha Sudeep have also voiced their concerns regarding the necessity for a resolution to the issue.
Taking to social media, Sudeep asserted, “The Cauvery is our birthright. I believe that the government, which has garnered widespread consensus, will not abandon the people who hold Kaveri dear. I call upon experts to devise a strategy promptly and deliver justice. I, too, am part of the struggle for our land, water, and language. May Mother Kaveri protect Karunad.”
With inputs from agencies.
