CWMA Upholds Release of Cauvery Water to Tamil Nadu

CWMA Upholds Release of Cauvery Water to Tamil Nadu

The Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) convened for its 25th meeting in the national capital, where it upheld the decision of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC). The directive, requiring Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu daily, will remain in effect until October 15. This decision was reached during the meeting held on Thursday, following a review of its earlier order issued on Tuesday.

Karnataka’s Response and Legal Actions

Karnataka’s Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, responded to the CWMA’s decision by expressing his intention to consult with retired Supreme Court Judges. He aims to explore potential legal avenues to challenge the directive in the Supreme Court. Siddaramaiah emphasized the importance of evaluating the situation after consulting with the legal team and expressed a willingness to take further action.

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Criticism from BJP MP Tejaswi Surya

In the midst of this water dispute, BJP MP Tejaswi Surya criticized the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government for its handling of the Cauvery water issue. Surya, representing the Bangalore South constituency, argued that the state should cease releasing water to Tamil Nadu. He made these remarks during a protest at Vidhana Soudha, where he joined other BJP leaders to address the ongoing conflict.

Surya also pointed out what he considered a failure by the Karnataka government to provide comprehensive details to the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC), highlighting that blaming the central government was not a viable solution. He emphasized that the central authorities had fulfilled their responsibilities, and the matter was now in the hands of the relevant authorities and the Supreme Court.

Protests and Background

The water dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu has led to protests by farmers in Karnataka. The CWMA’s earlier order required Karnataka to release 5,000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu for a period of 15 days, starting from September 13. Despite appeals to the Supreme Court, it declined to interfere with the CWMA’s directive, further fueling tensions surrounding the issue.