Expressing concern over the Cauvery Water Management Authority’s (CWMA) direction to Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of water a day to Tamil Nadu for the next 15 days, the BJP accused the Congress government of failing to protect the interests of Karnataka.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru on Wednesday, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R. Ashok demanded a White Paper on the performance of Karnataka’s technical and legal team with respect to protecting the State’s interests. He urged the government to identify the officials who failed to protect Karnataka’s interests effectively and take action against them.
“This is not merely an administrative lapse. It is a serious neglect by the government in protecting Karnataka’s water rights,” he argued.
“Releasing water when we are in distress is impossible. The government must immediately approach the Supreme Court and convince it about the actual situation. Under no circumstances should water be released now,” he urged the government.
“The Chief Minister and the Minister for Water Resources must own this failure and answer the people of the State. The government must disclose: what points were placed before the authority on Karnataka’s behalf? Was a report on the actual condition of the State’s reservoirs submitted? Did the government efficiently explain the impact on Bengaluru’s drinking water situation and Karnataka’s farmers if water is released to Tamil Nadu? What documents did the government place before the authority to protect the State’s interests? They should be made public,” he demanded.
He also demanded formulation of a permanent technical-cum-legal strategy to present the State’s case effectively before the Central authorities.
“Releasing water even when there is no adequate storage, and shedding tears after an order on water release is issued — this must not become the State government’s Cauvery policy,” Mr. Ashok said, criticising the government sharply.
He urged the government to immediately seek a review of the CWMA’s order and, if necessary, take the legal fight forward.