No scope for bandh but protests okay, says DCM Shivakumar

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar warned that there would be “no opportunity for a bandh” in Bengaluru on Friday while conceding that the State government would not stop people from protesting.

Those observing the bandh have been demanding that the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu should be ceased immediately given the drinking water needs of Bengaluru and farming needs of the state.

The inf lows into the dams have been poor because of deficit rainfall this monsoon.

“We will not hinder anyone from staging protests. However, there is no opportunity for a bandh,” Shivakumar told mediapersons.

“We will definitely provide protection to the commoner tomorrow. We have to follow the directions that the Supreme Court and High Court has given us on bandhs. Please follow the law of the land and carry on the protests without observing a bandh,” he added.

Shivakumar said that the State government was taking the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) meeting on Friday very seriously.

“I have instructed the officials that the CWMA meeting should be attended in person rather than online. Tamil Nadu has demanded 11,0 0 0 cusecs (cubic feet per second) of water, which our officials will argue against effectively. They will try to impress upon them the seriousness of the drought-like situation in the state. As much as 2,000 cusecs of water may already be flowing now,” he said.

He added that a number of experts would participate in the meeting as well. “A number of senior agricultural and irrigation experts would be in the meeting and hold a discussion. The name of the participants cannot be disclosed,” Shivakumar said.

Asked about whether another application would be filed in the Supreme Court, he said that the State government would hold out on what the CWMA would decide, pointing out that they had already placed an application before the Apex Court.