Farmers' interest paramount, will not sit idly to cling to power: CM to Cauvery agitators
Mandya (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) has directed the state to release 2,600 cusecs of water for the next 15 days to Tamil Nadu but his government would instead give priority to drinking water needs and sustaining standing crops.
Addressing farmers who have been agitating for the past 56 days against the release of Cauvery water, under the banner of 'Mandya Zila Raita Hitarakshana Samiti', Siddaramaiah said, "We will not be found wanting in protecting your interests. We will not sacrifice your interests to stay in power. We will not sit idly only to cling to power."
Noting that the state is facing severe drought this year as rains have been inadequate, he said Karnataka is facing a distress year without the reservoirs being filled.
"....first they asked to release 5,000 cusecs of water. Then the order came to release 3,000 cusecs of water. We did not agree to that either. Now 2,600 cusecs of water has been ordered to be released yesterday. But we will give first priority to drinking water and sustaining crops. We will try our best to save the Monsoon crop," Siddaramaiah told the farmers.
The chief minister told the agitators that he being the son of a farmer who had taken part in the farmers' agitation knows their plight very well.
The CWRC on Monday recommended that Karnataka ensure that a minimum flow of 2,600 cusecs of water reaches Biligundlu in Tamil Nadu from November 1 to 15.
According to a statement on the 89th CWRC meeting, Karnataka submitted that in the light of almost nil inflows into its four reservoirs in the Cauvery basin, the state would not be able to release any water to reach Biligundlu "except that (which) would be contributed from the uncontrolled catchment".
"Tamil Nadu has demanded that Karnataka release 13,000 cusecs for next 15 days (which works out to 16.90 thousand million cubic feet)," the statement said.
The CWRC finally recommended that Karnataka needs to ensure water is released from its reservoirs so that a flow of 2,600 cusecs is realised at Biligundlu starting from November 1 till November 15.
The CWRC had in September ordered Karnataka to ensure the release of 5,000 cusecs of Cauvery water from September 28 to October 15.
Karnataka has filed a review petition against the orders of both the Supreme Court and the Cauvery Water Management Authority.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
