Bengaluru: The Karnataka legislative council on Friday unanimously decided not to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, saying the water was needed for drinking purposes in the state.
A special session of the House was convened to discuss the impact of the Supreme Court's September 20 order asking Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of water daily till September 27.
After the subject was discussed, the Council passed an unanimous resolution that the water in the dams would be used for drinking purposes in the state and that the water can't be released to Tamil Nadu.
The cause of the recent flare-up
Tamil Nadu had moved the Supreme Court on On August 22, 2016, seeking direction to Karnataka to release 50.052 tmcft Cauvery water from its reservoirs on the basis of the final order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal 2007. The water was required for its samba cultivation. Karnataka, however, declined to release water, citing distress situation in the state.
The Supreme Court on September 2, directed Karnataka to consider Tamil Nadu's plea on humanitarian grounds. The court also asked Karnataka to revert by September 5 and give a statement on how much water it could release to Tamil Nadu. Accordingly, Karnataka informed the apex court that it can release 10,000 cusecs per day. However, Tamil Nadu demanded 20,000 cusecs per day. Further, the Supreme Court ordered Karnataka to release 15,000 cusecs per day to Tamil Nadu for next 10 days till September 16.
This ignited a widespread protest in Karnataka and state-wide bandh was observed on September 9. The state approached the Supreme Court again seeking changes in the earlier order. On September 12, the SC modified its September 5 order and directed Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs of water till September 20. The Supreme Court decision again lead to public unrest as the amount of water to be released was increased by extending the number of days.
The state witnessed violence in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mandya and other parts. Two persons were killed and Section 144 was imposed in Bengaluru. A curfew was also imposed in some areas of Bengaluru.
Subsequently, Cauvery Supervisory Committee, set up by Supreme Court, ordered Karnataka on September 19 to release 3,000 cusecs of water per day from September 21 to 30. On September 20, supreme court directed Karnataka to further release 6,000 cusecs of water from September 21 to 27.
The court also directed the central government to provide a permanent solution to the Cauvery issue and to set up the Cauvery Management Board for the purpose.
(With inputs from agencies)