From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Sep 27: With the Supreme Court directing Karnataka to release 6000 cusecs a day of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu for three days and asking the Centre to mediate between the two warring States to find a solution to the more than a century-old water sharing dispute, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has convened an all-party meeting in Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on Wednesday morning to discuss the latest direction from the apex court.

The two-judge bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justices Deepak Mishra and Lalith Uday, in its fourth order for release of Cauvery water despite the strong objection from Karnataka, had issued its latest direction on release of Cauvery waters despite being apprise by the State’s counsel Fali Nariman about the unanimous resolution of both houses of Karnataka legislature against release of Cauvery waters in order to ensure supply of drinking water to the people of Bengaluru, Mandya, Mysuru and other towns.

It may be recalled that the Supreme Court’s third order on release of 6000 cusecs of Cauvery waters a day for seven days as against the Cauvery supervisory committee’s order for release of 3000 cusecs of water a day for a week led to the State Legislature’s unanimous decision asking the State Government not to release water.

Meanwhile, the State Congress executive committee which met in Bengaluru has asked the State Government not to release any more water and strictly abide by the unanimous decision of both houses of the State Legislature.

AICC General Secretary and party in-charge for the State Digvijay Singh felt the State legislature reflects the will of the people and its unanimous decision with the full backing of all political parties need to honoured.

"Karnataka has duly complied with the two earlier orders of the Supreme Court,’’ he said pointing out that the State Government was unable to accept any direction for release of more waters in view of the requirement of drinking water, which has to get priority under the National Water Policy.

Singh said: ``The honourable Supreme Court cannot ignore the unanimous decision of the State Legislature, which reflects the will of the people, and ask the State Government to flout it. The Supervisory Committee appointed by the Supreme Court has also set 3000 cusecs a day for a week as the maximum that the State could release and Karnataka had approached the apex court to scrap the same.’’

While expressing the Congress party’s full support to Karnataka Government in its decision, the senior Congress leader also appealed to the people of Tamil Nadu to take into consideration the deficit rainfall in Karnataka and the State’s inability to release water.