The State government will file a review petition in the Supreme Court either on Wednesday or Thursday, asking it to direct the Cauvery River Authority (CRA) to review its decision on the release of water, even as protesters in the basin region have decided to intensify the ongoing agitation.
Water Resources Minister Basavaraj Bommai and senior officials of the department are scheduled to go to New Delhi on Wednesday and hold consultations with senior counsel Fali S Nariman and other legal experts in this regard. If possible, the review petition will be filed the same day, according to official sources.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a Gandhi Jayanti function, Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar said the State has released water to Tamil Nadu honouring the SC order. “Now, the State will try to draw the attention of the court on the plight of farmers in the basin region in its review petition which will be filed either on Wednesday or Thursday,” he added.
Karnataka is planning to highlight the dwindling inflow of water into its four reservoirs of the KRS, Kabini, Hemavathi and Harangi in the last two weeks and the prevailing drought in the entire basin region in the petition.
Sourcing data
Bommai and Chief Secretary S V Ranganath, sources said, held a series of meetings with the officials of Bangalore Water Supply, Sewerage Board and the Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Agriculture and Horticulture departments in the last two days and collected data to be presented before the Supreme Court in its review petition.
Leaders spearheading the protest, including G Made Gowda of Cauvery Hitarakshana Vedike, Raitha Sangha leader Puttannaiah and cine actor Ambareesh, who held a meeting with Sri Balagangadaranatha Swami of Adichunchanagiri Mutt on Tuesday, unanimously decided to intensify the agitation till release of water is stopped.
Karnataka has been releasing 9,000 cusecs of water every day to Tamil Nadu since Sunday following a direction from the apex court. The Supreme Court had ordered the State to comply with the CRA decision for the release of water. The basin region has been witnessing widespread protest against the release of water.
Bus and train services between Bangalore and Mysore have been disrupted for the last three days.
Police on alert over dam siege plan
The police will be on tenterhooks on Wednesday when one lakh people are set to lay siege to the Krishnarajasagara Dam in Mandya district as protests intensify against the release of Cauvery waters to Tamil Nadu, reports DHNS. A large posse of policemen has been deployed at the spot to prevent untoward incidents. Temporary fences have been erected to prevent protesters from entering the reservoir. Full report on Page 5
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