Supreme Court order angers farmers, activists

The order of the Supreme Court on releasing Cauvery water has triggered widespread resentment among farmers and Kannada organisations. They have demanded that the State government stick to its stand and not release water to Tamil Nadu.

Raitha Sangha leader Kodihalli Chandrashekar said the order will adversely affect the farmers in the Cauvery basin. Water available now is hardly enough for irrigation and potable purposes. The Sangha will launch vigorous protest across the districts in the basin region, he said.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should have convened the meeting of Cauvery River Authority (CRA) immediately after the Karnataka government filed the review petition against his order and tried to resolve the issue amicably. Instead, Singh kept silent, leading to the court direction to Karnataka. The Centre has let down the State, he charged.

Narayana Gowda of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike warned the State government against the release of water. The Vedike members are planning to stage protests in the State and a dharna at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi against the Union government.
The Kannada filmdom has already decided to support the decision taken by Cauvery Hitarakshana Samiti led by G Made Gowda.

“The Kannada film industry is with the State farmers and support Made Gowda’s stand on the issue,” said K V Chandrashekar, President of the Karnataka Film Chambers of Commerce.