Notwithstanding the assurance given by Karnataka government to protect the interests of farmers in the Cauvery basin, local farmers’ outfits have called for “Mandya bandh” on September 15 in protest against water release to Tamil Nadu. In a goodwill gesture, the Karnataka government agreed before the Supreme Court last week to release 10,000 cusecs of water from Cauvery river to Tamil Nadu till September 20.
Staging a dharna here, G Made Gowda, president of “Cauvery Horata Samithi” comprising a number of organisations, charged the Centre with “showing step motherly attitude towards Karnataka“.
Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar had yesterday appealed people of the Cauvery basin to maintain peace and promised to protect the interests of the farmers on Cauvery water sharing issue.
Responding to protests that have been going on in parts of Mandya district and also in Davanagere by various organisations against water release to Tamil Nadu, Shettar had assured that the government would not sacrifice the interest of farmers.
He said he had already held a meeting of Opposition leaders and another round of consultations will be held on September 15.
During the Cauvery River Authority (CRA) meeting being chaired by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on September 19, Karnataka would place its views and convince that the State was not in a position to release more water under the prevailing circumstances, he said