Always a weapon used by the politicians of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, Cauvery is back in the news once again. This time too, it is the same story.
Tamil Nadu’s demand for a compensation of Rs2,500-crore crop loss has sent the new Congress Government in Karnataka into a tizzy. However, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah hit back and firmly rejected the damage claimed by the Tamil Nadu Government. The Government also asserted and said that it had released required water to Samba and Kuruvai for crops.
Karnataka Water Resources Minister MB Patil said that the Government would respond suitably. He said, “We have data and information to demonstrate that, in the Water Year 2012-13, Tamil Nadu got more water than required for its Samba and Kuruvai rice crops.”
“As and when summons are issued, proper response on behalf of Karnataka will be filed by our legal team,” he added.
The TN Government has approached the Supreme Court seeking Rs2,479 crore from Karnataka for loss of crops due to the non-release of Cauvery water during the irrigation year 2012-13 as per the interim award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal.
Tamil Nadu has sought Rs1,045.7 crore towards loss of crops, bio-mass and power generation due to non-release of water as per the interim order and Rs1,434 crore as punitive damages for “deliberate non-compliance” of the decision passed by the Tribunal.
BJP State president Pralhad Joshi has urged PM Manmohan Singh to intervene and convince the TN Government to withdraw its petition filed in the apex court.
“It is time that the PM should intervene in the matter. At the same time, CM Siddaramaiah should consult legal experts to ensure that the petition by Tamil Nadu is dismissed in court,” he told a Press conference in Bangalore.