Will challenge CWRC order in Supreme Court, says CM Siddaramaiah

CHAMARAJANAGAR: A day after the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) ordered Karnataka to release 3,000 cuses of water to Tamil Nadu from September 28 till October 15, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the state will challenge the order in the Supreme Court.

Speaking to media persons at Male Mahadeshwara Hills, he said, “We don’t have water and there will be no compromise on the water sharing issue. We have already consulted legal experts and they have suggested that we challenge the CWRC order in the Supreme Court. The Opposition BJP and JD(S) are simply politicising the Cauvery row”.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah distributing mangalsutras to couples at the mass marriage ceremony.

The CM also said he has broken the jinx associated with Chamarajanagar district by his visits. “The last time when I was CM, I visited the district 12 times and completed a full five-year tenure”, he pointed out. He also blessed the couples who got married at a mass marriage ceremony organised by the temple administration.

“Spending excessively for weddings is not a good development for society and people should opt for simple ceremonies. There are instances where people from poor families have mortgaged properties for extravagant weddings and lost their lives, so it is better they get married at mass marriage ceremonies”, he advised.

Siddaramaiah also recalled that he had released Rs 3,000 crore for the development of Hanur Assembly constituency and MM Hills when he was CM in his earlier term. “After the setting up of the Shree Malai MahadeshwaraSwamy Kshethra Development Authority, the temple revenue has also increased. So far, 28 crore people have availed benefit of the Shakti free travel scheme for women and his has helped increase tourism”, he noted.

The CM further said that he prayed at the Male Mahadeshwara temple for more rain as 194 taluks have been declared drought-hit.

On the Karnataka Bandh planned on September 29, the CM said, “Any protest is allowed in a democracy, let them do it. But the Supreme Court clearly said that any bandh or processions that disturb the livelihoods of others must not be held.”

The CM offered prayers at the temple.

A Karnataka Bandh has been called on September 29 after the CWRC ordered the Karnataka government to continue releasing water to Tamil Nadu.

BJP leaders, meanwhile, are holding a protest in Bengaluru against the Congress government over the release fo Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy also joined in the protest. The JD(S) and BJP recently announced a pre-poll alliance for the 2024 Lok Sabha election.

JD(S) supremo Deve Gowda had earlier written to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention in the issue. “I hope and trust PM Modi that he will take action and see that further damage does not take place as far as Karnataka is concerned,” said JD(S) chief H D Deve Gowda regarding his letter to PM Modi on the Cauvery water dispute.