K’taka violates SC order, defers release of water

State to take a call after central govt’s meeting of CMs today

Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah said on Wednesday the state has deferred the release of Cauvery waters to Tamil Nadu till Thursday and will take a call after the meeting by the Centre in New Delhi.

“Based on ground realities we will take a decision after the meeting,” Siddaramaiah said after a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

Union water resources minister Uma Bharti had called for a meeting to discuss the issue.

The meeting convened by the Centre will also be attended by representatives from the Tamil Nadu government.

Prior to the cabinet meet, Siddaramaiah conveyed an allparty meeting on Wednesday to discuss the Supreme Court’s direction to Karnataka on Tuesday to release 6,000 cusecs of water for three days — starting from Wednesday.

The all-party meeting was attended by the two main opposition parties, the BJP and the Janata Dal(Secular).

In the meeting, both the parties are said to have advised the Karnataka government against releasing water to Tamil Nadu and to stick to the unanimous resolution passed by the Karnataka legislature in the special session held last week.

At the special session, the legislative council and the lower house adopted similar resolutions that Cauvery waters will be used only for drinking in Bengaluru and the Cauvery basin.

“Going by the suggestions and views expressed at the all party meeting, we have decided to defer the release of Cauvery water,” Siddaramaiah added.

Prohibitory orders under Section 144 will be in force till September 30 in Bengaluru.

The city police have deployed 15,000 police personnel and untoward incidents have been reported recently.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu’s main opposition party, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Wednesday accused Uma Bharti of backing Karnataka in the Cauvery row and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should chair the proposed meeting of chief ministers to break the deadlock.

DMK chief M Karunanidhi said a few media reports said Bhart should chair the meeting being convened by the Centre as per a Supreme Court suggestion.

He said Bharti had recently aired views “fully supporting” Karnataka in the row.

“Instead of the participation of the Union minister, the meet should be chaired by PM Narendra Modi himself so that an amicable solution rises (sic) from it,” he said.