Karnataka resolves to release water only for Cauvery basin and Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Sep 23: The Karnataka legislative assembly has resolved to release Cauvery water only for drinking water. A similar resolution was passed by the legislative council earlier in the day.

As per the resolution which was backed by all members in the assembly water would be released only for drinking purposes.

The house said that there is an acute situation of distress. The combined storages in the four reservoirs- Krishna Raja Sagar, Hemavathy, Harangi and Kabini had reached an alarmingly low level with only 27.6 TMCft of water, the resolution also read.

"It is now resolved to direct that in this state of acute distress it is imperative that the government ensures that no water from the present storages be drawn, save and except for meeting drinking water requirements of the villages and towns in the Cauvery basin and for the entire city of Bengaluru. The above resolution is unanimously passed considering the needs of the inhabitants of the state of Karnataka whose interests are likely to be gravely jeopardized if water in the four reservoirs is in any way reduced- other than for meeting the drinking water requirements of the inhabitants of in the Cauvery basin including the city of Bengaluru," the resolution also read.

Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah in his concluding remarks said that there was no way that Karnataka can release any more water.

Tamil Nadu keeps asking us for water. The North-Eastern monsoon is about to hit Tamil Nadu and hence they will have no shortage of water. However, in Karnataka there is acute shortage of water, he also said.

He further said that he abides by the Constitution. We do want to disobey the Supreme Court's order. However, the situation is such that we have no water at all the CM also said.

He ended his remarks by saying that his government will abide by what the house asks him to do. This comment was applauded by all members in the house.

The decision to convene a special session of both houses was taken following an all party and Cabinet meeting held on Tuesday.

On Monday the Supreme Court had directed the state to release 6,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for a period of seven days.

It was decided at the Cabinet that they would go to court and cite a legislative resolution which decided that water cannot be released.The Supreme Court hears the matter next on Tuesday at 2 PM.

Karnataka had expressed displeasure and its inability to release any water. Many had termed the directive of the court as regressive and all leaders were united when it was decided that the court's order should not be abided by.

The Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah met with former Prime Minister, H D Deve Gowda and dished out support to take such a decision.

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