Unrest in Karnataka, anger in Tamil Nadu over Cauvery verdict

CHENNAI: The perennial water war between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka escalated on Tuesday as the Supreme Court order directing Karnataka to release 15,000 cusecs of

CHENNAI: The perennial water war between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka escalated on Tuesday as the Supreme Court order directing Karnataka to release 15,000 cusecs of water from the Cauvery river to Tamil Nadu sparked off equal and opposite protests in the two states.

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The border district of Mandya was the worst hit in Karnataka, where a PWD office was vandalised by farmers, schools shut and traffic off roads as farmers took to streets to protest the order. In several areas, theatres screening Tamil films became targets of angry farmers. More than 2,000 policemen were deployed to maintain law and order in a town that stayed tense since morning.

While in Tamil Nadu, farmers from the delta region expressed unhappiness that the water was inadequate for their farming needs and described it as “too little too late”.

But in Mandya, the farmers have threatened a bigger agitation and have called for a bandh on September 9. They have also announced intentions to block feeder canals to prevent water being given to Tamil Nadu.

“When we are being given only drinking water and not a drop for irrigation, why should farmers in Tamil Nadu be given water to grow their crops? This is patently unjust and the Karnataka government must file a review petition in Supreme Court against the decision,” said Mandya MLA, MH Ambareesh.

Hundreds of buses were taken off roads in protest in Bengaluru-Mysuru section as also between Chennai and Bengaluru. At Hosur border, protesters from Karantaka burnt effigies of Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa and stopped all buses coming from the state. “We do not want to give even a drop of water to TN. The Karnataka government is to blame as it could not put the case of Karantaka farmers properly in the court,” protesting farmers said.

In Bengaluru, Tamil Sangam president TG Damodaran and other Congress leaders called on Karnataka home minister G Parameshwar and sought protection for Tamil-speaking population of the state, who is said to have assured adequate protection. State law minister TB Jayachandra appealed to people to maintain calm.

Before the SC order, at an all-party meet in Bengaluru as also in a meeting with Tamil Nadu farmers, Karnataka CM Sidharamaiah asserted that “not a drop could be given to Tamil Nadu as our own state is facing deficient rainfall and we are giving water only for drinking purposes. We cannot give water for irrigation to other state”.

Meanwhile in Tamil Nadu, political parties cutting across party lines welcomed the SC decision and hoped that the court will ensure full justice to the state.