K'taka govt writes to CWMA to review its order, Shivakumar defends releasing Cauvery water to TN
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday defended the decision to release Cauvery river water to neighbouring Tamil Nadu, calling it a "balancing act" even as he said the state has written to the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) requesting it to review the order.
Highlighting reduced rains and scarcity of water in the Cauvery basin, he said the CWMA has directed the state to release 10,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu on a daily basis for the next 15 days.
"There are court orders, there are orders regarding how the distress formula works. Protecting our farmers' interests is a big responsibility for me. Legislators from Mandya may protest against the release of water (to TN)...also, we can't give everything to Tamil Nadu, the government will have to do a balancing act," Shivakumar, who is also Water Resources Minister said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "We have written to the authority yesterday requesting it to review its decision to release 10,000 cusecs of water per day for 15 days to Tamil Nadu, because there is less rains, there is scarcity of water even for drinking, leave aside agriculture."
"Tamil Nadu has utilised water for crops, the water we release from here is taking five to six days to reach there, but still they have used," he said.
Tamil Nadu on Monday approached the Supreme Court with a plea to direct Karnataka to release 24,000 cusecs of Cauvery water daily for standing crops.
Following this, Shivakumar had on Tuesday had said Karnataka would release 10 tmc ft of Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu, while maintaining that the state doesn't have sufficient water in dams to meet its requirements like drinking water and agriculture, due to deficit monsoon.
Taking strong exception to the Karnataka government's decision to release Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu, the opposition BJP and JD(S) on Thursday had accused the Congress dispensation of 'betraying' the people of the state and its farmers for the sake of politics and to save its INDIA bloc ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK is a part of the opposition bloc.
Responding to it, Shivakumar said, "Should I give the list regarding the quantum of water released during the BJP and JD(S) governments in the past, during such a situation. I don't want to do politics."
"We will surely call an all-party meeting depending on the situation. We have already planned to call a meeting on Mahadayi, Krishna and Cauvery river water disputes and seek the opposition's suggestions," he added.
JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy on Thursday had urged the government to call an all-party meeting on the Cauvery issue.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Thumbay Group begins work on Sharjah’s first private integrated psychiatric, rehabilitation hospital
Sharjah: Thumbay Group has laid the foundation stone for the Thumbay Psychiatric and Rehabilitation Hospital at Sharjah Healthcare City, a 120-bed facility that the company says will be the region’s first private, fully integrated hospital dedicated to psychiatric care, neuro-rehabilitation and addiction recovery.
The groundbreaking ceremony was led by Dr. Abdelaziz Saeed Al Mheiri, who is also a member of the Sharjah Executive Council, in the presence of Dr. Thumbay Moideen.
Spread across 110,000 square feet, the hospital is being developed to address growing demand for specialised mental health and rehabilitation services in the UAE and the wider Gulf region.
The facility will include inpatient and outpatient services in psychiatry, neuro-rehabilitation, addiction treatment, child and adolescent mental health, and care for mood and anxiety disorders. It will also feature VIP inpatient villas designed to provide privacy and support long-term recovery.
A mosque, named the Thumbay Masjid, will be constructed within the campus and will be open to the public.
The hospital is being designed to meet standards for Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), an internationally recognised accreditation system for rehabilitation facilities.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Abdelaziz Saeed Al Mheiri said the project reflects Sharjah’s commitment to strengthening healthcare infrastructure in all aspects of wellbeing.
“Mental health and rehabilitation have long needed dedicated infrastructure, and we are proud to support a private partner whose vision matches the ambition of this Emirate,” he said.
Dr. Thumbay Moideen said the project was a response to a growing need for specialised mental healthcare services in the region.
“We have spent over three decades building healthcare in this region, and the one conversation that has grown louder every year is mental health. Families have been carrying this quietly for too long. This hospital is our answer. It is purpose-built, not retrofitted, and it has been designed around dignity, recovery, and outcomes that families can trust,” he said.
Construction is scheduled to begin in June 2026, and the hospital is expected to become operational by mid-2027.
Once completed, the facility will become part of Thumbay Group’s network of healthcare, education and diagnostic institutions across the UAE.
