Row over Cauvery water: protests erupt as SC refuses to interfere with release orders

Protests erupted in various parts of the Cauvery river basin districts of Karnataka after the Supreme Court refused to interfere with orders of the Cauvery Water Management Authority and Cauvery Water Regulation Committee, directing the state to release 5,000 cusecs of water to neighbouring Tamil Nadu.

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.

Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene (farmers organisation) staged a protest at Basaveshwara circle in Mysuru, and raised slogans: "Where is water to release? And we demand justice." They have also planned to lay siege to the Command Area Development Authority office in Mysuru, as a mark of protest.

Pointing out that Cauvery and Kabini basin taluks have already been declared as drought-hit, a farmer leader alleged, CWMA orders are in favour of Tamil Nadu as it is without taking into account the water level at reservoirs, standing crops and drinking water needs of Karnataka.

Karnataka Rakshana Vedike staged a protest at Gandhinagar, urging the state government not to release water to Tamil Nadu at any cost.