The recommendation of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC), which instructed Karnataka to ensure the release of 3000 cusecs of Cauvery water at Biligundlu starting from September 28 until October 15, 2023, was met with disappointment by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said, “Cauvery Water Regulatory Committee (CWRC) ordered to release 3000 cusecs of water, I have already spoken to our advocates. They have suggested us to challenge this order in the Supreme Court. We will challenge it in the Supreme Court. We don’t have water to release to Tamil Nadu. We are challenging the orders of the CWRC.”
CM Siddaramaiah added that 194 taluqs have been declared drought-prone and that he had prayed at the Mahadeshwara temple for more rain.
On Karnataka Bandh dated September 29 CM Siddaramaiah said, “Any protest is allowed in democracy, let them do it. But SC clearly said that any bandh and processions that disturb the livelihoods of others must not be held. BJP and JDS are always doing politics on this issue.”
In the meantime, BJP leaders are protesting in Bengaluru against the Karnataka government over the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. HD Kumaraswamy, the leader of the JD(S), also joined the protest. Recently, the JD(S) and BJP declared their pre-election alliance for the Lok Sabha elections in 2024. On September 29, a Karnataka Bandh was declared after the CWRC instructed the Karnataka government to keep releasing water to Tamil Nadu. Deve Gowda, the leader of the JD(S), had previously written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to request his involvement in the matter.
“I hope and trust PM Modi that he will take action and see that further damage does not take place as far as Karnataka is concerned,” says JD(S) chief HD Deve Gowda over his letter to PM Modi on Cauvery water dispute.
Karnataka was mandated by the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) to guarantee the release of 3000 cusecs of Cauvery water at Biligundlu beginning on September 28 and continuing through October 15, 2023. Before, 5000 cusecs of water were scheduled to be released.