SC order on Cauvery, result of govt's negligence: Poojary

Senior Congress leader and former Union minister B Janardhana Poojary on Tuesday said the Supreme Court’s direction to the state government to release 15,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu every day is the result of the negligence by the government in filing a proper affidavit.

Addressing reporters here, he said the state government does not know the meaning of the affidavit in the case. Why the point that not less than 10,000 cusecs of water will be released to Tamil Nadu was added in the affidavit, he asked and took the government to task for taking two days to file a divisional petition. “This shows the irresponsibility of the government,” he criticised.

He said the chief minister has wasted time by convening an all-party meeting and a meeting of experts. The decision to file an affidavit needs common sense and not an expert advice. The chief minister, being an advocate himself, has committed an act of ignorance. He must have gone through the affidavit.

Even if he has gone through it, he might not have understood the meaning of it, Poojary said. He said that the statement made by Irrigation Minister M B Patil on the issue shows his ignorance. Poojary also condemned the act of the minister of using foul language about media personnel. His act has embarrassed the high command and the minister has to apologise. The chief minister should initiate serious action against the minister, he demanded.

He questioned why the contract for irrigation works are being given to the people outside Karnataka. Poojary said there is no water in Cauvery belt and there is a possibility of releasing water to Tamil Nadu from rivers in the coastal region. This will be a blow to the farmers in the region, he stated.

Due to Yettinahole project, Dakshina Kannada will become a barren land. I have been warning the state government on the adverse effects of thge project. Though the high command has asked the chief minister to speak to him on the issue, he has not done so till now, he said. Responding to a query, he said he will support the protests over the Cauvery issue, but not the bandh.