#Title Cauvery water release order CM urges groups to call off Aug 13 Bandh ‘Bandh solves nothing, only causes hardship to public’

Hans News Service Bengaluru

KarnatakaChief Minister D K Shivakumar appealed on July 31 for organisations to abandon their call for a complete Karnataka shutdown on August 13. He stated that a bandh under any circumstance yields no resolution and only creates difficulties for the public.

The shutdown demand arose in protest against a CWMA directive requiring Cauvery water release to Tamil Nadu while the state faces acute rainfall shortage. Addressing reporters at Vidhana Soudha, he explained that the CWMA instructed a 15-day release during a period of hardship. He recalled that adequate rainfall the previous year allowed more than 400 TMC to reach Tamil Nadu.

The state had reportedly already submitted an appeal to the CWMA opposing the CWRC recommendation. Countering opposition claims that no representatives attended the CWMA meeting, he confirmed three senior officials from Karnataka participated, requested additional time before any release, and noted that ACS Gaurav Gupta advanced firm arguments alongside strong submissions from Tamil Nadu officials.

CWMA representatives observed that Karnataka was receiving higher inflows. He listed current storage figures with Hemavati at 67 percent, KRS at 36 percent, Harangi at 95 percent and Kabini at 83 percent, available to all parties. The latest order nevertheless directs the release of 4.5 TMC even as fresh inflows continue.

Protecting Karnataka’s interests remains the government’s primary duty, Shivakumar affirmed, citing past experience, an MLAs’ meeting convened this year, safeguards already extended to farmers and arrangements secured for drinking water.

Regarding the planned arrival of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay, Shivakumar said a letter from the Tamil Nadu chief secretary to his Karnataka counterpart fixed the visit for August 3. After telephonic discussion he requested a different date, arguing the present climate is unsuitable and that mutual benefit for both states must guide any amicable settlement of the Cauvery dispute while safeguarding state and farmer interests.