Cauvery Water Row Heats Up: Highway Blocked As Protesters Gather

SC directed Karnataka to release 15,000 cusecs of Cauvery’s water to Tamil Nadu for ten days for agricultural lands.

Security guards the access to Krishna Raja Sagara dam as people protest against release Cauvery river water to neighbouring Tamil Nadu. (Photo: IANS)

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah held a meeting in Bengaluru ahead of all-party meet to find a solution to the escalating Cauvery water dispute.

The situation is quickly escalating out of hand as a day-long protest shutdown is being observed at Mandya town in Karnataka against releasing of Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu on the Supreme Court’s directive to the state government.

Activists from the Jai Karnataka group vandalised Public Works Department office in Mandya as a means to show their disapproval of Supreme Court order on the issue.

While many have taken out a protest against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa. Karnataka-bound Tamil Nadu transport buses have also been stranded in Tamil Nadu because of the protests.

The district authority was forced to declare a holiday for schools and colleges in the town, due to protesters staging massive rallies and demonstrations, blocking vehicular traffic on the Bengaluru-Mysuru state highway.

Farmers protest in Maddur, attempt to block Mysuru-Bengaluru highway. (Photo Courtesy: Twitter/ANI_news)

Protests Disrupt Normal Life

Additional police personnel were deployed in Mandya and on the highway to maintain law and order and prevent untoward incidents as the state-run transport corporation (KSRTC) has suspended bus services in the district and across the old Mysuru region.

The authorities, citing security concerns, have shut down the Krishna Raja Sagara dam and Brindavan Gardens in Mandya for four days.

We will not allow the state government to release the river water to Tamil Nadu when it is not able to supply it to our fields to grow paddy, wheat, sugarcane and other crops and for drinking in the region

Made Gowda, Leader of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (State Farmers’ Association) 

Farmers protest in of Mandya, block roads to show dissent. (Photo Courtesy: Twitter/ANI_news)

Supreme Court Orders Sharing of Cauvery Water

Earlier on Monday, pro-Kannada outfit activists protested in various parts of Karnataka, against the Supreme Court direction to release 15,000 cusecs (cubic foot per second) of the Cauvery river’s water to Tamil Nadu for the next ten days to ameliorate the farmers’ plight.

While Chief Minister Siddaramaiah convened a meeting of legislature leaders and MPs on Tuesday to discuss the issue, the Cauvery Hitarakshana Samithi (Cauvery protection committee) called for a bandh on Tuesday in Mandya, the hotbed of Cauvery politics.

The Cauvery Hitarakshana Samithi also warned the government that it would face strong agitation if water was released to Tamil Nadu.

Police said effigies and posters of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa were burnt in some places in these districts.

The Tamil Nadu government had filed a plea asking for a direction to Bengaluru to release 50.052 tmcft (thousand million cubic feet) of Cauvery water to feed agricultural lands.

The Karnataka government replied to this saying that it is in deficit and hence cannot provide water.

The direction to Karnataka is a temporary solution for Tamil Nadu’s problems. The court has asked the Tamil Nadu government to approach the Supervisory Committee regarding a matter.

The court gave three days time to Karnataka to respond to the plea by Tamil Nadu and asked the Supervisory Committee to examine the matter in four days and pass appropriate directions.

During a hearing of the case on Friday, the apex court said, “Live and Let Live principle should be kept in mind. Both states should live in harmony.”

(With inputs from IANS.)