Cauvery Row: Farmers, Pro-Kannada Outfits Stage Protest In Mandya

Protests have erupted in the Cauvery river basin regions, including Mysuru, Mandya, Maddur, Chamarajanagara, Ramanagara and various other parts of the state, according to PTI.

These demonstrations come in response to a call by farmer groups and pro-Kannada organizations, urging the state government to withhold the release of water to the neighboring state.

As tensions escalate over the release of Cauvery water from Karnataka to Tamil Nadu, prompting a statewide shutdown call, law enforcement agencies have heightened security measures throughout the state.

These protests gained momentum following the Supreme Court's decision not to interfere with the directives issued by the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC). These directives mandated Karnataka to release 5,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu.

Karnataka has consistently maintained its inability to release water, citing its own pressing requirements for drinking water and irrigation within the Cauvery basin regions. This decision is influenced by the water scarcity resulting from insufficient monsoon rainfall.

Meanwhile, amid the ongoing dispute over Cauvery water sharing with Tamil Nadu, Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister, DK Shivakumar, announced on Friday that the government remains committed to safeguarding the interests of the state's farmers, as reported by PTI.

He also disclosed that during a Cabinet meeting on Friday, it was resolved to adhere to the court's order concerning the distribution of Cauvery water.

The Supreme Court, in a hearing on the preceding Thursday, refused to intervene in the CWMA order. A bench comprising Justices BR Gavai, PS Narasimha, and Prashant Kumar Mishra emphasized that both the CWMA and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) consistently meet and oversee the assessment of water needs at 15-day intervals.

According to PTI, the Supreme Court dismissed an application by the Tamil Nadu government, which sought an increase in its current allocation of Cauvery water from 5,000 to 7,200 cusecs per day. Tamil Nadu had requested new directives for the release of Cauvery river water from Karnataka, arguing that the neighboring state had altered its stance and was providing a lesser amount of water than previously agreed upon.

On September 20, the Karnataka government submitted an application to the Supreme Court, requesting the court to instruct the CWMA to review its decision from September 18, which mandated the continuous release of 5,000 cusecs of river water to Tamil Nadu until September 29.

Karnataka, in its application, stated, "This water year of 2023-24 has begun on a bad note. The southwest monsoon, which feeds the catchment in Karnataka, has failed miserably. Even at the reservoir level, which covers a part of the catchment, the shortfall is 53.42 percent. If the shortfall is considered up to the inter-State border Biligundulu, where flows are accountable, the shortfall and distress would be much more than 53.42 percent."