Cauvery row: Karnataka Unlikely to Relent

BENGALURU:  Karnataka is unlikely to follow Supreme Court’s directive and provide Tamil Nadu with 6,000 cusec of Cauvery water every day from 21^st of September to 27^th of September. Citing protests in the Cauvery basin, many top leaders of the party have asked Siddaramaiah to defy the order. Siddaramaiah spoke to Sonia Gandhi on the phone and made her aware of the situation. According to sources, he spoke to Sonia Gandhi and told her that Karnataka was not in a condition to release any more water to Tamil Nadu because of the drought situation and poor storage levels in the reservoirs. Brushing aside all the concerns of the Karnataka government, a bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and UU Lalit directed the Karnataka government to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water daily till September 27.

Karnataka had gone to the court to complain about the Cauvery Supervisory Committee who had directed it to release 3,000 cusecs of water every day, but was ordered to release double that amount. If Karnataka fails to comply with the SC order, it can be hauled up for contempt. The court could also recommend dismissal of the Siddaramaiah government. In 2002, then chief minister SM Krishna was pulled by the court when he defied its order to release water to Tamil Nadu. He apologized to the court and later released water.

Many in the Congress believe that it is a very emotive issue and it might help the party in the Cauvery basin. There are others who believe that asking PM Narendra Modi’s intervention is a much viable option and they should ask him to convene a meeting of the CMs.

If Siddaramaiah stands by his likely decision, then he would be the first chief minister to do so. S Bangarappa had defied the orders of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, but had to fall in line when the court intervened. Many insiders believe that same might happen with Siddaramaiah and he might fall in line and obey the court order. 

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