BENGALURU: Karnataka chief minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday said the state faces a dual challenge of protecting farmers’ livelihoods while complying with legal directions on releasing Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, and called for good rainfall to help overcome the situation.Speaking to the media after visiting a temple at Bhagamandala in Kodagu district, Shivakumar said the government must balance the needs of farmers with its legal obligations on water sharing.“Our dams have not filled yet. We have two big challenges: Releasing water to Tamil Nadu, abiding by the law, and protecting our farmers. Certainly we will protect the interests of our farmers. It is my duty too,” Shivakumar said.He said the government had a responsibility to ensure water for drinking and agriculture and that the availability of water in reservoirs would determine how much could be released for irrigation.“Depending on the availability of water at dams, we have to release it to farmers for their crops. Our wish is that there should be good rainfall, crops should flourish, and farmers should have food and livelihood,” he added.On the Mekedatu project, Shivakumar said Karnataka would continue to protect its interests. He noted that the Supreme Court had stated that there was no objection to constructing a dam within the state and said the Centre had also conveyed a similar position in Parliament while responding to a question from a Tamil Nadu MP.Mekedatu is a proposed multi-purpose project for drinking water and power, involving the construction of a balancing reservoir near Kanakapura in Bengaluru South district. Tamil Nadu has opposed the project, arguing that it could affect the state’s water supply.Shivakumar reiterated that the project would not affect Tamil Nadu’s allocated share of 177.25 TMC of Cauvery water and said separate formulas were in place for water sharing during distress years.The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC), which met in New Delhi last Tuesday, directed Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs of water per day to Tamil Nadu from August 12 for 15 days. The Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) later upheld the order.The Karnataka government has decided to challenge the CWMA’s order in the Supreme Court.Referring to the water-sharing dispute, Shivakumar said Karnataka must protect both its farmers and its legal obligations.The Cauvery Water Management Authority has issued certain directions. “If there is any crisis, a situation may come where we may have to give the dam keys to the Centre. That should not happen. We have to protect the livelihood of our farmers and also protect and abide by the law. This is very important. To overcome all these, we need blessings of rain gods and all of us should pray for them,” he said.
On proposed law governing use of public property
Shivakumar also responded to BJP national general secretary B L Santosh’s reported remarks that the RSS would not register under the state government’s proposed Bill concerning unauthorised use of public property.He said there was no reason for the RSS or Santosh to be concerned and maintained that the proposed legislation was not directed at any particular organisation.“We don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. Whichever religion or organisation, they must follow law… If an organisation submits an application seeking permission from the government, the necessary permission and staff arrangements will be provided according to the rules,” he said.Responding to Santosh’s remarks, Shivakumar said, “He is a senior leader. Let us also listen to his guidance. We have only provided greater clarity regarding the provisions that already exist in the law. Nobody needs to panic.”He cited the example of Minister Krishna Byre Gowda obtaining government permission to hold the “Freedom Habba” programme in front of Vidhana Soudha on Saturday.The chief minister said political parties and other organisations, including the JD(S), BJP and Congress, could hold programmes as long as they followed the law.
