State govt can be dismissed if SC orders disobeyed, Siddu tells farmers

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah met protesting farmers and their compatriots observing the Karnataka bandh and told them that the State government could be dismissed if they didn’t comply with the Apex Court’s orders.

Speaking with protesters including State President of State Sugarcane Growers Kuruburu Shanthakumar, AAP state president Mukhyamantri Chandru, labour unions, Dalit organisations and pro-Kannada groups at his Home Office Krishna in Bengaluru on Friday, the CM said that he would consult experts in an evening meeting over the Cauvery river water sharing with Tamil Nadu.

“A meeting with retired Supreme Court justices, irrigation experts and former advocate generals has been called this evening to discuss the next steps. We think that water should not be released. If the water is not released, the reservoirs can be seized by the Central government, contempt of court would be committed and the government can be dismissed,” Siddaramaiah said.

“We feel that Cauvery water should not be released to Tamil Nadu. A decision will be taken after the meeting with the expert team this evening,” he added.

Shanthakumar told the CM that the people of the state are being worried by the court orders, adding that the government should take a decision in favour of the farmers.

“Withdraw cases against those of the organisations who fight for the people. Mekedatu project should be given consideration as well,” he said.

Distress formula needed: CM

Siddaramaiah said that there was a dire need for a distress formula.

“Two committees will review the situation and issue orders regarding Cauvery water distribution. The order was to release water from Biligundlu (water measuring station in Tamil Nadu). Under normal circumstances, there is a mandate to release 177.25 TMCFT(thousand million cubic feet) water in a year. Our state needs 284.85 TMCFT of water. No distress formula has been formulated in the Supreme Court. The tribunal itself has decided to have two committees,” he said.

“This year there was a problem due to no rain in the month of August. Even this month there is hardly any rain. Tamil Nadu will receive rains in the month of September (under the influence of North East Monsoon). So far 43 TMCFT of water has gone. It has been ordered that 123 TMCFT of water should be released. But we have not released the water. We have been protesting every time the Cauvery Authority called a meeting,” the chief minister added.