Cauvery issue: Will release 8,000 cusecs water to TN, says CM Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru, Jul 14: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday said the Karnataka government was ready to release 8,000 cusecs of water from the Cauvery river every day to neighbouring Tamil Nadu instead of one TMC as directed by the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee till this month-end.
There is only 63 per cent water in the Cauvery basin dams and in this situation, the state was not in a position to release one TMC water each day, the Chief Minister told reporters after an all-party meeting here.
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka, JD(S) MLA G T Deve Gowda, farmer leaders and legal experts attended the meeting.
"Everyone was of the opinion that we should release 8,000 cusecs of water and not one TMC, which is 11,500 cusecs of water. If there is no rain then we will minimise the release of water and file an appeal before the Cauvery Water Management Authority," Siddaramaiah said.
ALSO READ: All party meet to discuss Cauvery panel's directive to Karnataka to release water to TN today
According to him, the Cauvery Water Regulatory Authority has directed that starting from July 12 till the month-end, every day one TMC water has to be released.
In a normal year, 9.14 TMC in June and 31.24 TMC in July should be released, he explained.
Advocate Mohan Katarki, who was present in the meeting, said this time Krishnarajasagar dam on Cauvery river has only 54 per cent water whereas other dams in the Cauvery basin have only 63 per cent water, Siddaramaiah said.
On July 12, the inflow of water was 5,000 cusec water in Kabini, which was allowed to flow towards Tamil Nadu, the Chief Minister said, adding that 5,000 cusecs water was flowing in Biligundlu on Saturday.
He explained that on July 12, 20,000 cusecs and 19,000 cusecs on July 13 was released for Tamil Nadu from Kabini dam because water cannot be stored for long due to its holding capacity.
Siddarmaaiah said all the parties in Karnataka were unanimous that they should appeal to the CWMA stating that releasing one TMC water was not possible.
"Katarki said we cannot say we cannot release water because it will be disrespectful to the Cauvery Tribunal. We will release 8,000 cusecs. If there is good rain then it is okay to release one TMC. We are expecting good rains this time," he noted.
The Chief Minister said 2023 was a 'distress year' with scanty rainfall.
"In a normal year, we release 177 TMC but last year we released only 81 TMC water," he added.
ತಮಿಳುನಾಡಿಗೆ ಕಾವೇರಿ ನೀರು ಬಿಡುಗಡೆ ಮಾಡುವಂತೆ ಕಾವೇರಿ ನೀರು ನಿಯಂತ್ರಣ ಸಮಿತಿ ಆದೇಶ ಹೊರಡಿಸಿರುವ ಹಿನ್ನೆಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಇಂದು ವಿಧಾನಸೌಧ ಸಭಾಂಗಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿ @siddaramaiah ಅವರ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷತೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸರ್ವಪಕ್ಷಗಳ ಸಭೆ ನಡೆಯಿತು.
— CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) July 14, 2024
ಉಪಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿಗಳು ಹಾಗೂ ಜಲಸಂಪನ್ಮೂಲ ಸಚಿವರಾದ @DKShivakumar, ವಿಧಾನಸಭೆಯ ವಿರೋಧ ಪಕ್ಷದ ನಾಯಕರಾದ… pic.twitter.com/iuG8zeXGH2
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Vaishno Devi ropeway row: Two detained in fresh protest, FIR against eight
Katra/Jammu (PTI): Two representatives of labourers and shopkeepers in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district were on Wednesday detained after fresh protests at the Katra base camp against a proposed ropeway project along the trek route to the Vaishno Devi shrine.
According to police, an FIR was registered against eight people on Tuesday, a day after violent protests in Katra in which a policeman got injured.
Protestors, led by Bhupinder Singh and Sohan Chand, took out a rally against the proposed ropeway project.
However, officials said the police stopped the protestors from moving ahead, resulting in clashes between them.
Singh and Chand were detained and taken away from the spot in a police vehicle, they said, adding that the protestors were also dispersed from the scene.
Udhampur DIG (Reasi range) Rayees Bhat said the detainees were not arrested.
The demonstration was triggered following the registration of an FIR in the Monday clash.
According to the FIR, a police team was performing law and order duty at Fountain Chowk, Katra, in view of the ongoing protests against the installation of the ropeway at Tarakote in Katra by the Shrine Board.
During the demonstration, the protestors wrongfully blocked the road, obstructing vehicular movement and causing hindrance to the free passage of yatris, it said.
Following this, Bhupinder Singh Jamwal alias Pinku Miya, Sohan Chand and Maqbool among others were booked for provocation and instigating violence.
They assaulted the on-duty police party unexpectedly with fists and blows and also attempted to harm the policemen using bricks, stones, and weapons, the police alleged in their FIR.
They also tore the uniforms of police officers and officials. Station house officer (SHO) Katra and other on-duty officials sustained injuries in the Monday clash and were shifted to community health centre Katra for medical treatment, it said.
The protestors and attackers also damaged some vehicles at Fountain Chowk on the abetment of the “protest leaders”, the FIR read.
They also pelted stones and bricks at the general public and yatris, thus endangering their lives, it said.
The strike was called off after the district administration assured the protestors of holding talks with different stakeholders, including Shrine Board officials, to address their concerns.
Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday said the genuine concerns of the people protesting against the proposed ropeway project would be addressed.
Deputy Commissioner Reasi Vishesh Paul Mahajan and protest leader Bhupinder Singh jointly announced the strike's suspension.
"I have held talks with Bhupinder. We are aware of your demands and concerns. Bhupinder has given time till December 15 to hold talks with all stakeholders to resolve the issues," Mahajan said while addressing the protesters on Monday.
