Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday, after the emergency cabinet meeting, announced that the state will release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu from Tuesday night.
Briefing the media, Siddaramaiah said: "Releasing water, following the Supreme Court directives after hearing our modification petition, is a very difficult proposition. However, considering the constitutional position of the SC, wherein defying its directions is not an option, the cabinet has resolved to release water from tonight."
The CM assured, that even if the water is released to TN, all efforts will be made to ensure there is no drinking water crisis for Bengaluru, Mysuru and Mandya districts.
"Despite it being a difficult ask to meet the directions of the SC, I assure the people of the Cauvery basin and Bengaluru that there shall be no drinking water crisis till June 6 of 2017," he said.
Siddaramaiah said the decision to release the water, considering the ground realities, was next to "impossible" but could not be evaded.
He said time and again Karnataka has been meted out injustice in the Cauvery river issue. "But we have accepted the constitution which spells out the three pillars of the country, the Judiciary, the administration and the executive. However, considering that a constitutionally set up government needs to abide within the frame of the constitution, despite it being a difficult decision, we cannot defy or reject the SC which would be extra-constitutional," he said.
Siddaramaiah said the cabinet had a detailed discussion on the matter and finally arrived at the decision to release the water to TN.
"We weighed the pros and cons of the situation, including political and otherwise. We also took into consideration the repurcussions it would have, if we defied the SC order, on our original petition at the SC challenging the decision of the Cauvery River Tribunal. Following all these consideration the cabinet reached a consensus on the matter and agreed to release the water to TN," said the CM
Siddaramaiah warned that any untoward activity following this decision of the cabinet would be dealt with an "iron hand". He appealed to the people to not indulge in any emotional or angry steps and not take law into their own hands.
He said the additional release of water, considering the increase in number of days to allow Cauvery water to flow to TN, will be close to 1.88 lakh cusecs.
Siddaramaiah seeks meeting with PM
Siddaramaiah also said he had sought for an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"I have also sought for an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention. We are hoping the appointment will be given to us on Wednesday, September 14," he said.
Siddaramaiah said the meeting will be a one-on-one with the PM, explaining to him what is the factual position in the state and ask him to have a similar one-on-one with TN CM J Jayalalitha to resolve the crisis.
"I will also speak to the PM on bringing about the national water policy, in the absence of which we are facing such crisis on a regular basis," he said.
Briefing the media, Siddaramaiah said: "Releasing water, following the Supreme Court directives after hearing our modification petition, is a very difficult proposition. However, considering the constitutional position of the SC, wherein defying its directions is not an option, the cabinet has resolved to release water from tonight."
The CM assured, that even if the water is released to TN, all efforts will be made to ensure there is no drinking water crisis for Bengaluru, Mysuru and Mandya districts.
"Despite it being a difficult ask to meet the directions of the SC, I assure the people of the Cauvery basin and Bengaluru that there shall be no drinking water crisis till June 6 of 2017," he said.
Siddaramaiah said the decision to release the water, considering the ground realities, was next to "impossible" but could not be evaded.
He said time and again Karnataka has been meted out injustice in the Cauvery river issue. "But we have accepted the constitution which spells out the three pillars of the country, the Judiciary, the administration and the executive. However, considering that a constitutionally set up government needs to abide within the frame of the constitution, despite it being a difficult decision, we cannot defy or reject the SC which would be extra-constitutional," he said.
Siddaramaiah said the cabinet had a detailed discussion on the matter and finally arrived at the decision to release the water to TN.
"We weighed the pros and cons of the situation, including political and otherwise. We also took into consideration the repurcussions it would have, if we defied the SC order, on our original petition at the SC challenging the decision of the Cauvery River Tribunal. Following all these consideration the cabinet reached a consensus on the matter and agreed to release the water to TN," said the CM
Siddaramaiah warned that any untoward activity following this decision of the cabinet would be dealt with an "iron hand". He appealed to the people to not indulge in any emotional or angry steps and not take law into their own hands.
He said the additional release of water, considering the increase in number of days to allow Cauvery water to flow to TN, will be close to 1.88 lakh cusecs.
Siddaramaiah seeks meeting with PM
Siddaramaiah also said he had sought for an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"I have also sought for an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention. We are hoping the appointment will be given to us on Wednesday, September 14," he said.
Siddaramaiah said the meeting will be a one-on-one with the PM, explaining to him what is the factual position in the state and ask him to have a similar one-on-one with TN CM J Jayalalitha to resolve the crisis.
"I will also speak to the PM on bringing about the national water policy, in the absence of which we are facing such crisis on a regular basis," he said.