The protesters warned that the agitation was only the beginning and could intensify if the state government proceeded with the release of water to Tamil Nadu. Photo: Screengrab/ANI
CWRC order on TN’s Cauvery water quota sparks protests in Karnataka
Decrying daily release of 3,500 cusecs of water to TN for 15 days, activists say state itself is struggling with water crisis and inadequate supply for drinking, farms and livestock
Pro-Kannada organisations took to the streets in Bengaluru on Wednesday (July 29) to protest against the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC)'s directive requiring Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of Cauvery water daily to Tamil Nadu for 15 days. Stating that the state itself was facing concerns over drinking water availability, the protesters asserted that Karnataka could not afford to part with "even a drop" of water.
Similar demonstrations were reported from Mysuru and Mandya.
Also read: Karnataka ordered to release Cauvery water to TN; state to appeal, protests break out
Police erected barricades, deployed BMTC buses and detained several protesters before shifting them from the venue.
Bengaluru protest
In Bengaluru, members of a faction of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) led by Shivarame Gowda, along with several other pro-Kannada groups, including those headed by Sa Ra Govindu, gathered near the Kuvempu statue in Malleswaram. Carrying empty pots on their heads as a symbol of water scarcity, the protesters marched through the area while raising slogans against the CWRC's order.
Calling the CWRC's direction "an unscientific order", Govindu said, "It has been nearly two months since the monsoon season began, yet not a single drop of water has flowed into the KRS dam. Today, people are struggling even for drinking water. There is no water for livestock or agriculture."
Questioning the order, he said, "Directing Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of water every day for 15 days amounts to nearly 4.5 TMC. Where are we supposed to get this water from?" He added that it was simply not possible to release even a drop of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. "We stand with the farmers of Mandya. I appeal to all Kannadigas across Karnataka to condemn this unscientific order."
Warning of escalation
KRV president Shivarame Gowda alleged that Karnataka had repeatedly been treated unfairly in the Cauvery dispute. "Without understanding the ground realities, they have delivered an unscientific order. We, the people of Karnataka and our farmers, condemn this decision," he said, urging the state government to protect the interests of Karnataka's farmers.
Also read: Cauvery water dispute: Can Vijay-DK Shivakumar talks break deadlock?
The protesters warned that the agitation was only the beginning and could intensify if the state government proceeded with the release of water to Tamil Nadu. They argued that the prevailing water situation in Karnataka, particularly concerns over drinking water, must be taken into account before implementing the CWRC's directive.
BJP slams government
Police made heavy deployment of forces in the area and took several activists into preventive custody after the demonstration.
Similar agitations were also seen in Mysuru, Mandya and Ramanagara against the CWRC order.
The opposition BJP alleged that Chief Minister DK Shivakumar-led Congress government failed in handling the Cauvery issue. Speaking to reporters in Shivamogga, BJP state chief BY Vijayendra said the lawyers representing Karnataka before the CWRC had failed to provide comprehensive information on the availability of water in the state.
He said Karnataka's farmers were facing severe distress and that those in the Cauvery basin were suffering due to inadequate rainfall. He alleged that the state government had released water to Tamil Nadu even before the CWRC issued its direction.