The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
Cannot spare Cauvery water: Karnataka House
KARNATAKA-TAMIL NADU WATER WAR
SETTING THE stage in effect for a confrontation with the Supreme Court, a special session of Karnataka legislative assembly Friday passed a unanimous resolution, stating that water level in four reservoirs of the Cauvery basin in the state is now down to only 27.6 thousand million cubic (TMC) feet and must be used only for drinking water needs in the Cauvery basin and Bengaluru.
A similar resolution was passed in the legislative council.
The special session was called in the light of Supreme Court’s directive to Karnataka on September 20 to release 6,000 cusecs (cubic feet per second) of water till September 27 to Tamil Nadu from reservoirs in Karnataka.
The Siddaramaiah-led Congress government’s decision to call the special session was seen as an attempt to address political and public pressure to stop release of water to Tamil Nadu, while at the same time not appearing to disobey the apex court.
Although some legislators made critical references to the court order, the final resolution passed in the assembly made no reference to the apex court ruling, or to Tamil Nadu. Noting that there is “an acute situation of distress’’ in terms of rainfall and water availability in Cauvery region, the resolution stated that the combined water storage in the four reservoirs — Krishna Raja Sagar, Hemavathy, Harangi, and Kabini — is alarmingly low at 27.6 TMC feet.
“It is now resolved that in this state of acute distress, it is imperative that the government ensures that no water from present storage be drawn except for meeting drinking water requirement of the villages and towns in Cauvery basin and for the entire city of Bangalore,’’ the resolution said.
Siddaramaiah said the intention behind holding the special session was not to counter orders of the Supreme Court, but to look after interests of the people of Karnataka.“animpossiblesituation has arisen, a situation where it is impossible to implement orders,’’ he said. “We will stick by what the legislature decides. It is our promise to the people of the state and the farming community that we will look after their interest. You cannot override the mandate of the people.” Stating that it is “our political dharma to work as per roles defined for the legislature, executive and judiciary in the Constitution”, he said, “We have no intention to go against it (Constitution).”
Earlier, Opposition leaders H D Kumaraswamy of JDS and BJP’S Jagadish Shettar and Basavarajbommaiurgedthestate government to stop release of water to Tamil Nadu.