Cauvery row: With great difficulty, will release water to TN, says Siddaramaiah

Bengaluru, Sept 13: The Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah said that with great difficulty they will continue to implement the order of the Supreme Court which had ordered release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.

"We are bound by the Constitution and if we do not follow the order of the Supreme Court it will lead to a Constitutional crisis," the Chief Minister told a press conference on Tuesday after convening an urgent cabinet meeting.

"During the meeting, we took into consideration that the order of the court which was only interim in nature. The 2007 verdict of the Cauvery Waters Tribunal has been challenged by us in the Supreme Court and the matter is coming up on October 18. Our legal battle in the Supreme Court will continue and are team is on the job," Siddaramaiah also said.

"From the beginning on the Cauvery Waters issue, injustice has been meted out to us. However, we will abide by the Constitution," Siddaramaiah said.

Both the orders of the Supreme Court passed on September 5 and 12 have not gone in our favour. However, we still have confidence in the judiciary and hence our team will continue with the legal battle, Siddaramaiah said

We are releasing more water:

Explaining that the modification petition did not go in Karnataka's favour, Siddaramaiah said that they are now releasing more water. As per the order of the court on September 5, we would have released 1,50,000 cusecs of water.

However, after Monday's order we are releasing 1,68,000 cusecs of water. This is 18,000 cusecs more, the CM said.

"This is a very difficult order to follow. However, after a meeting of the cabinet and also with senior leaders of the Congress, it was decided that we shall abide by the Constitution. We do not want a Constitutional crisis," Siddaramaiah also said.

"We are taking all measures to fight our case. We are making arguments before the Supervisory Committee and also continue before the Supreme Court as well.

I have also written to the Prime Minister and expect to meet him tomorrow. I will urge him to convene a meeting of both CMs of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to sort out the issue. Law and order does not restrict to Karnataka alone. Tamil Nadu too is concerned," the CM said.

Siddaramaiah assured the people that there will be no cause for concern when drinking water is concerned. The government will do everything to ensure that drinking water is provided. I assure that people of Bengaluru, Mysuru and all other places in the Cauvery basin will get drinking water, the CM also said.

Will deal with an iron hand:

On the violence that erupted, the Chief Minister said that he will deal with the situation with an iron hand. "We have decided to take stern action to ensure law and order is abided. No one should take law into their own hands and public should not face hardship," he also said.

The CM also said that on Monday one person had died in police firing. "We have announced compensation of Rs 10 lakh. I am not saying that this is the value of his life, but this compensation is given because his family is facing hardship, Siddaramaiah said.

While stating that the state has remained peaceful on Tuesday, he also assured that no damage would be caused to life and property.

"I assure the people who have come from outside the state that they and their properties will be protected. The Tamil speaking people will be protected. We also appeal that the Kannadigas in Tamil Nadu are protected," he also said.

Further the CM appealed to television channels to stop displaying visuals that would incite violence. "Bengaluru is an international city. This is brand Bengaluru, let us all protect it," he also said.

OneIndia News