Bengaluru, 02 August (H.S.):
Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Sunday appealed to farmers and Kannada organisations to withdraw their proposed August 13 bandh against the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, saying the State government was carefully assessing the situation and preparing to protect Karnataka’s interests through legal and administrative measures.
Shivakumar made the appeal after chairing an all-party meeting convened to discuss the Cauvery dispute and the Cauvery Water Management Authority’s (CWMA) direction to Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu for 15 days.
The Chief Minister said he would personally hold talks with farmers, Kannada organisations and Opposition leaders to persuade them to call off the bandh. Ministers would also reach out to the protesting groups.
He argued that a shutdown would disrupt schools, businesses and normal life without helping Karnataka’s cause. The government remained committed to safeguarding farmers’ interests and the State’s share of Cauvery water, he said.
Shivakumar said Opposition parties had extended support to the government during the all-party meeting and offered several suggestions. These proposals would be examined in consultation with the State’s legal team before further action was taken.
The government was also closely studying legal developments, including the petition moved by the DMK in the Supreme Court over the Cauvery issue, he said.
With CWMA meetings expected to be held regularly, possibly every fortnight until January 2027, Shivakumar said Karnataka needed to remain legally prepared to present its case and protect its interests.
He said the combined inflow into the four major reservoirs in the Cauvery basin was close to 68,000 cusecs on Sunday. However, inflows could decline as rainfall had receded in Kodagu and other catchment areas.
Karnataka would also need to preserve around 40 tmc ft of water, including about four tmc ft towards evaporation losses, to ensure adequate drinking water supplies, he added.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman
