BANGALORE: Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah (Congress) today strongly urged the State government not to release Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu.
"Not even a single drop of Cauvery river water should be released to Tamil Nadu", Siddaramaiah said, noting that the water-sharing is a delicate issue that whips up passion. He noted that there is already drinking water shortage in Mysore and Bangalore.
He appealed to the Government to take firm and tough stand on the issue, adding, "injustice" has been done to Karnataka in the final order passed by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal in Februay 2007.
Noting that it has been challenged by the state in Supreme Court, he said "it has to be legally fought".
Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda said he would make a statement on Cauvery river water sharing issue, after which his government is ready for a discussion on the subject in the Assembly.
Gowda said last week the interests of Karnataka farmers would be protected, and reiterated today there would no compromise on the issue.
Tamil Nadu has filed an application in the Supreme Court seeking urgent directions to restrain Karnataka from resorting to summer irrigation and consequent depletion of storages in the reservoirs in Karnataka, in contravention of the final order.
The application said that as on March 15, the storage in the four reservoirs had depleted and only about 20 to 30 tmcft of water would remain by the end of May, as against the full storage of 114.5 tmcft.