Karnataka: Karnataka to move SC against Cauvery panel order to release 3,000 cusecs of water daily | India News

BENGALURU: The Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) on Friday upheld the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee’s recommendation and directed Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu until October 15, even as Karnataka observed a bandh over the issue.
The Karnataka government has decided to challenge the decision in Supreme Court and also file a review plea before the CWMA.
“The state is not in a position to comply with the directive due to a lack of water in our Cauvery reservoirs,” CM Siddaramaiah said after consultation with legal experts, including retired SC and HC judges and former advocate generals. The SC had refused to interfere with CWMA’s earlier order directing Karnataka to release 5,000 cusecs daily to TN.At the CWMA meeting in New Delhi, Tamil Nadu argued for the release of the “backlog” of 12.2 tmcft of water and sought 12,500 cusecs every day till October 15. The CWMA rejected the demand, with a rider that Karnataka should clear the backlog in the subsequent period, if it receives rainfall.
BJP leaders, including former CM Basavaraj Bommai and Bangalore South MP Tejasvi Surya, blamed the Congress government for its “failure” to handle the issue.

The Karnataka bandh called by Kannada groups and farmer organisations evoked a mixed response. The shutdown was near total in southern districts. In Bengaluru, commercial establishments and educational institutions remained shut. At Bengaluru airport, 22 incoming and 22 outbound flights were cancelled.