Karnataka relents on Cauvery amid protests

Complying with the Supreme Court direction, the Karnataka government on Tuesday decided to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu despite “severe hardships” as protests in the wake of the court order intensified with the highway between Bengaluru and Mysuru blocked by farmers.

“Despite severe hardships faced by the government of Karnataka, the state will release water as directed by the Supreme Court,” chief minister Siddaramaiah told reporters Tuesday night after nearly a three-hour long all-party meeting convened by him here.

He also said the state would approach the Supreme Court with a modification petition explaining the its difficulties in implementing its order, directing release of 15,000 cusecs per day to Tamil Nadu for next 10 days, and seeking change in it and also move the Cauvery Supervisory Committee.

The chief minister said it would be “difficult” for a Constitution-bound state to defy the Supreme Court order or to refuse release of water.

“With a heavy heart”, it has been decided to provide water to Tamil Nadu even though the state itself was facing a “very severe distress” year, he said.

In Mandya, agitated farmers and activists belonging to pro-Kannada outfits blocked Bengaluru-Mysuru Highway as protests intensified in the wake of the apex court directive to the state to release Cauvery water.

Mandya district saw a bandh with protesters holding road blockades and dharnas at several places, as hundreds of security personnel, including Central forces, were deployed in the Cauvery belt to maintain law and order.

Reports from Tamil Nadu said inter-state bus services to Karnataka remained hit for the second day on Tuesday.