Cauvery issue: Siddaramaiah says SC order 'unimplementable', calls for Cabinet meeting

Bengaluru: Terming the Supreme Court’s order directing Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu till 27 September as “unimplementable”, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has called for a Cabinet and an all-party meeting on Wednesday to chalk out the next step.

“….the Supreme Court has passed an order, since we do not have water, it is very difficult to implement it. It is  an unimplementable order,” he told reporters here.

Siddaramaiah said Karnataka had placed certain facts based on ground reality before the Cauvery Supervisory Committee but it still passed an order directing the state to release 3,000 cusecs per day between 21 and 30 September.

Noting the committee was constituted by the apex court, he said it had given a direction on 5 September to Tamil Nadu to approach the committee and also asked Karnataka to file a response to the neighbouring state’s plea.

Despite all this, the Supreme Court has passed an order on Tuesday, he said.

Siddaramaiah appealed to public to maintain peace, while assuring that the government “is committed” to protect the interest of the state and its people and farmers.

“There is a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, we will discuss, we are waiting for the copy of the order of the  Supreme Court. The (state) Cabinet will take a view, meanwhile we will consult legal experts also,” he said.

“I have also called an all-party meeting, in that meeting we will discuss the pros and cons of this order. After taking views and opinion of leaders from all parties we will proceed further,” he added.

Karnataka will have to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery  water per day to Tamil Nadu from Wednesday till 27 September,  the Supreme Court said on Tuesday while raising the quantum fixed by the Supervisory Committee by 3,000 cusecs.

A bench of Justices Dipak Misra and UU Lalit has also  directed the Centre to constitute within four weeks the  Cauvery Water Management Board (CWMB) as directed by the  Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) in its award.

Siddarmaiah also said, “I appeal to people, especially those from Cauvery basin to maintain peace; they should not get carried away by emotions. The government is committed to protecting the interest of  the state, its people and its farmers. Every one should  cooperate.”

Soon after the Supreme Court’s order, the chief minister held meetings with senior state ministers and officials.