Cauvery row: Karnataka CM urges protesters not to obstruct flow of water in Kabini river amid flood alert
With the Water Resources Department of Karnataka issuing a flood alert over the likely release of water from the Kabini reservoir following heavy rainfall in
With the Water Resources Department of Karnataka issuing a flood alert over the likely release of water from the Kabini reservoir following heavy rainfall in its catchment areas, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar appealed to farmers’ organisations and Kannada groups not to make any attempt to obstruct the flow of water in the river. On his first visit to Mysuru after assuming office as Chief Minister, Mr. Shivakumar said he was visiting the city on the auspicious occasion of the Kabini reservoir reaching full capacity.
“I am told the reservoir is filling up. We cannot hold the water back. Therefore, I appeal to the protesters not to enter the river, or make any attempt to stop the flow of water,” he said. His appeal came after the Executive Engineer of the Kabini dam issued a flood alert stating that inflow into the reservoir had reached 15,500 cusecs on August 1. The alert stated there was a possibility of releasing between 8,000 and 10,000 cusecs of water, and advised residents in low-lying areas downstream to take necessary precautionary measures.
Protests over Cauvery water Referring to the State-wide bandh called by Kannada organisations on August 13 over the Cauvery issue, Mr. Shivakumar urged the organisers to reconsider the agitation. While acknowledging that protests are a democratic right, he said they should not cause inconvenience to people. However, the Chief Minister refrained from giving a direct answer when asked whether the government of Karnataka had decided to release water to Tamil Nadu following a directive from the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) to release 3,500 cusecs a day for 15 days.
He said the government would first hear the views of leaders of various political parties, elected representatives from the Cauvery basin, and members of the legal team at the all-party meeting convened in Bengaluru before taking a decision. Shivakumar, however, pointed out that the quantity of water recommended for release by the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) this year was lower than the quantity stipulated during the corresponding period last year.
The BriefWire