A call for a strike by the Federation of Kannada organisations against the CWMA's directive to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu has seen mixed support, with many groups offering only moral backing while essential services and schools are expected to function normally.
The Tamil Nadu government has filed a petition in the Supreme Court regarding the Cauvery water dispute with Karnataka, alleging that the water quantum allocated by the CWRC and released by Karnataka is insufficient. The state seeks its due share of water, citing Karnataka's ample reservoir storage.
The Supreme Court has advised the Tamil Nadu government to present its grievance regarding the proportionate release of Cauvery water to the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA). This comes after Tamil Nadu alleged that Karnataka was not releasing its due share of water despite directions from the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) and CWMA, impacting farmers in the state.
The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) has directed Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs of Cauvery water per day to Tamil Nadu for the next 15 days, amidst an ongoing dispute and a pending Supreme Court hearing.
While intense protests were seen in Mandya and preventive detentions carried out at several places, life remained unaffected in major urban centres like Bengaluru and Mysuru.
Kannada activists in Mandya and Mysuru have intensified protests against the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee's directive for Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of Cauvery water daily to Tamil Nadu. Protesters cite severe drinking water scarcity and have engaged in actions like disrupting film screenings and blocking highways. Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has stated the state will appeal the CWRC's order.
Change of guard in some states and evolving El Nino dynamics are triggering fresh actions on raging water-sharing disputes in several states.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has proposed holding talks with Karnataka regarding the long-standing Cauvery water dispute, citing a hope for a positive outcome. Despite his government's firm stance on legal recourse, Vijay believes a dialogue in Bengaluru could lead to a resolution.
Tamil Nadu Minister C T R Nirmal Kumar has rejected calls for an all-party meeting to discuss the ongoing Cauvery water dispute with Karnataka, citing a previously passed unanimous resolution in the Assembly. He accused DMK and Karnataka CM D K Shivakumar of working against Tamil Nadu's interests and criticised the DMK's "hasty" Supreme Court petition.
Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Sunday asserted that his government was committed to protecting the interests of the state's farmers and people on the Cauvery issue, while appealing to organisations to withdraw the proposed state-wide bandh.
Chief ministers from southern states convened at the Southern Zonal Council meeting in Kovalam, where Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar advocated for the 1971 census as the basis for delimitation and a freeze on Lok Sabha seats, while also addressing the contentious Cauvery water and Mekedatu dam issues.
Farmers organisations and pro-Kannada organisations staged protests in Mysuru, Mandya, Bengaluru and other parts expressing their anger and urging the state government not to release water to Tamil Nadu.
The Tamil Nadu government welcomed the decision, hailing it as a 'grand victory for the 'Amma (Jayalalithaa) government' and the state's farmers'.
With Karnataka starting release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu in compliance with the directives of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA), protests have erupted in southern parts of the State.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Tuesday said the state now is not in a position to release Cauvery river water to neighbouring Tamil Nadu, due to lack of rains in the river basin region.
Karnataka has stopped releasing Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu since Sunday evening, Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar told the assembly on Monday.Shettar said the government had filed a review petition in the Supreme Court on its recent directive and challenged the Cauvery Monitoring Committee order.
He said Karnataka's decision to release water will help Tamil Nadu's farmers.
The protests, which erupted after the Supreme Court refused to interfere with orders of the Cauvery Water Management Authority and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee directing the state to release 5,000 cusecs of water to neighbouring Tamil Nadu, have intensified.
Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has appealed to his Tamil Nadu counterpart C Vijay Joseph to defer his proposed August 3 visit to Bengaluru. The request comes amidst widespread protests in Karnataka following a decision by the CWMA upholding a direction for Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu.
Chairman of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal Justice N P Singh has resigned from his post citing ill health. Sources in the water resources ministry said Justice Singh, 80, had sent his resignation papers earlier this week.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said in Bangalore that the state was not in a position to release water as its people faced a "severe distress" situation
Udhayanidhi Stalin, was detained by police following alleged derogatory remarks against actor Trisha, which he dismisses as a 'fake narrative'.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Friday said her government had overcome 'various hurdles' to secure 66 tmcft of Cauvery water as she asked partymen to help secure all 40 seats in the next Lok Sabha polls to ensure the state has a greater say at national level.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay is set to introduce a resolution in the state Assembly opposing Karnataka's plan to construct a dam across the Cauvery river at Mekedatu. The resolution will urge the Centre to withhold technical and environmental clearance, citing concerns that the project would unilaterally affect Tamil Nadu's interests.
Tamil Nadu Leader of Opposition, Udhyanidhi Stalin, has courted severe political backlash and condemnation for an offensive double entendre remark alluding to actor Trisha during a protest gathering in Thanjavur, prompting calls for action from the National Commission for Women.
CM Siddaramaiah has called legislature session on September 23 to discuss the SC's direction.
The meeting came in the backdrop of protests by farmers bodies against the release of Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu.
Former Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin was arrested for an alleged 'double-meaning' remark alluding to actor Trisha, leading to widespread protests by DMK cadres and condemnation from various political leaders.
It is not possible for Karnataka to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu 'for now' as the state is facing drought and acute drinking water scarcity, Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar said on Sunday.
A three-judge bench headed by Justice BR Gavai sought a report from the Cauvery Water Management Authority on the amount of water released by Karnataka, after additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati informed the court that a meeting of the authority is scheduled for Monday.
Karnataka on Thursday night began releasing Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu from the Krishna Raja Sagar Reservoir as per a Supreme Court directive.
The water stoppage to Tamil Nadu came after Karnataka said it will file a review petition on Tuesday before Cauvery River Authority headed by the Prime Minister who made known his position to Congress and BJP delegations which met him separately seeking review of CRA's September 19 directive.
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee on Thursday urged the state government not to release Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu, as mandated by the Supreme Court, though it would amount to contempt of its order.
'The Cauvery is not dependable as Karnataka will never consider our needs.'
Karnataka on Friday pleaded its inability in supplying Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu in line with the Supreme Court's directive saying the state itself is facing a shortage of drinking water.
The Congress leadership should have immediately called on the Karnataka chief minister to implement the Supreme Court order and crack down on the violence, says R Rajagopalan.
Protests rocked the Cauvery river basin district of Karnataka for the second day on Monday over release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu with police taking about 100 people into custody after they squatted on tracks and detained the Mysore-Shirdi express at Gejjalagere village.
Karnataka claims that that it has supplied 116.697 tmcft of Cauvery water, instead of 100.04 tmcft, to TN.
He expressed hope there would be smooth sharing of Cauvery river water with Tamil Nadu in view of prospects of a good monsoon.
'The Cauvery river has become excessively politicised by all political parties.' 'They see a vote bank in an emotive issue of this kind.'
