Tension, protests in Karnataka after SC orders release of Cauvery water to TN

Bangalore, Dec 6: Farmers and local Kannada outfits have planned to 'gherao' the Krishnarajasagar (KRS) dam today as district authorities ordered closure of all schools and colleges in Mandya district in view of tension over Supreme Court's order to Karnataka to release water to Tamil Nadu. Protests erupted across Mandya district Wednesday evening.The Bangalore-Mysore highway was blocked in Mandya, Gejjalagere and Srirangapatna in protest against the release of water.The protesters said that the order was unscientific and that the State government should not release water. The District Raitha Hitharakshana Samithi has decided to lay a siege to the Krishnarajasagar (KRS) dam on Thursday in protest against the order, said Samithi president G Madegowda. Releasing water in the present situation would put the farmers of the district in a quandary, he said. He said that a resolution should be passed at the ongoing session of the legislature in Belgaum against releasing water. Farmers would keep vigil at the KRS reservoir to ensure that water is not released, Madegowda said and asked one person from each family to participate in the agitation near the reservoir.Deputy Commissioner B N Krishnaiah has announced that schools and colleges in the district will remain closed on December 6 and 7 as a precautionary measure. Prohibitory orders have been clamped within a radius of one kilometre of the KRS dam till December 10. Entry of visitors to the Brindavan Gardens near Mysore has been banned till further orders. The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed Karnataka to release 10,000 cusecs of Cauvery river water daily to Tamil Nadu at Biligundlu. A bench of justices D K Jain and Madan B Lokur, however, asked the Cauvery Monitoring Committee (CMC) to meet on Thursday to determine water required for the standing crops in both states. The order came after senior advocate Fali S Nariman, appearing for Karnataka, submitted that the matter should be sent back to the CMC, which could hold meeting according to directions. He also conveyed Karnataka's willingness to comply with the CMC direction.“The CMC is requested to hold its meeting on December 6 or 7 to determine water requirement for standing crops in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka for the month of December. We direct that till the CMC submits its report, Karnataka shall release 10,000 cusecs of water at Biligundlu from Wednesday,” the bench said.The court also sought to know from the Union government how much time it would take to notify the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal's final order. “All the states'counsels submitted that despite statutory mandate as contained in Inter States Water Disputes Act, 1956, the final decision rendered by the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal on February 5, 2007, has not been notified. We request the additional solicitor general to seek instruction within how much time the decision will be notified,” the court stated in its order.The matter has been posted for further hearing to Monday.After hearing Tamil Nadu's plea for release of at least 30 tmcft of water in December and Karnataka's reaction that the request was not maintainable, the court said: “We have to consider the needs and requirements of both states. Both states are in distress. "We have to find some practical solution because north-east monsoon is not normal. For Tamil Nadu, samba crop is major. We have to see what arrangement can be made to save the crop in both states. This is a critical period. The court is held up in interim award (of the tribunal) when the final decision has already been announced.”Additional Solicitor General H P Raval, representing the Centre, submitted that according to the Law Ministry's opinion, the award may not be notified. Agreeing to seek fresh instructions, he said Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala had filed a special leave petition against the final award while the Centre sought clarification by filing reference before the tribunal.