Cauvery: Karnataka to challenge CWRC direction in Supreme Court

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said he will challenge CWRC's direction to release 3,000 cusecs of water to TN in SC. He added that Karnataka does not have water to release. He also said 195 taluks in the state are reeling under drought. He said protests are allowed in democracy, but will keep SC order against bandhs in mind. He accused BJP & JD(S) of playing politics in the name of Cauvery & said the myth of CM losing power after visiting Chamarajanagar has been shattered as he visited 12 times & remained in CM seat for 5 yrs.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, said the Cauvery Water Regulatory Committee’s (CWRC) direction to Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu from September 28 to October 15 will be challenged before the Supreme Court.

Speaking to reporters in M.M.Hills in Chamarajanagar on Wednesday, Mr. Siddaramaiah said he had discussed the CWRC’s direction issued on September 26 with the legal experts. Based on their opinion, Karnataka will be challenging the CWRC’s direction in the Supreme court. “We are challenging the orders of the Regulatory Committee before the Supreme Court”, he said.

Karnataka does not have water to release to Tamil Nadu, Mr Siddaramaiah added.

To a question, Mr Siddaramaiah said a total of 195 taluks in the State were reeling under drought due to failure of rains this year.

With regard to the call for Karnataka bundh on the Cauvery issue on September 29, Mr Siddaramaiah said protests were permitted in democracy. However, he referred to the Supreme Court order against bandhs and said the State Government will keep the Apex court’s direction in mind.

With regard to the protests by Opposition leaders, Mr Siddaramaiah said BJP and JD (S) were playing politics in the name of Cauvery.

With regard to myth about Chief Ministers losing power after visiting Chamarajanagar, Mr Siddaramaiah said he never believed in superstition.