Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday termed the Supreme Court order directing the state to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu till September 27 as "unimplementable" and said that he 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.
The CM said that 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 September 21 and 30.
Noting the committee was constituted by the apex court only, he said it had given a direction on September 5 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".
"I have also called an all-party meeting on Wednesday, 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 September 27, the Supreme Court said on Tuesday, while raising the quantum fixed by the Supervisory Committee on Monday, by 3000 cusecs.
A bench of Justices Dipak Misra and U U 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.
The panel’s order to release 3,000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu comes into force after the state completes releasing 12,000 cusecs daily on Tuesday as per the apex court's September 12 order, which is a modification of its September 5 directive to release 15,000 cusecs daily for 10 days from September 7.
"How long will the two states keep fighting? This dispute is there from 1894. Cauvery Water Management Board (CWMB) is an expert body and it needs to be constituted. Just because the problem had not arisen earlier doesn't mean that the problem will never arise in future," the bench told ASG Pinky Anand, appearing for Centre.
Apparently keeping in mind last week's widespread violence over the Cauvery issue in Bengaluru, Siddarmaiah said, "I appeal to the people, especially to people from Cauvery basin to maintain peace; they should not get carried away by emotions. 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.
(With PTI inputs)
