Karnataka Legislature Passes Resolution, Will Release Water Only To Bengaluru And Cauvery Basin

The Karnataka legislature on Friday passed an unanimous resolution to not release Cauvery water for any other purpose than for the basic requirements of Bengaluru city and the towns and villages which come under the Cauvery basin.

BCCL

At the legislative council, within 45 minutes, after the resolution was moved by MLC S Ravi from the Congress party, the Council passed the resolution saying: "The resolution is unanimously passed after carefully considering the needs of the inhabitants of the state of Karnataka whose interests are likely to be gravely jeopardised if water in the four reservoirs is in any way reduced, other than for meeting the drinking water requirements of inhabitants in the Cauvery basin including the entire city of Bangalore."

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TOI

Barring the error of naming Bangalore, instead of the officially changed name of Bengaluru, the resolution reiterated the government stand of not releasing Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu without naming the other state.

Supporting the resolution, BJP opposition leader K S Eshwarappa and JD(S) floor leader Basavaraj Horatti said the government's firm stand was welcomed and that both the parties cutting across political lines will stand behind the government in this period of crisis.

"It is unfortunate that the state has to pass a resolution to safeguard our own water. Perhaps, the Supreme Court has not understood the facts of the situation and hence passed orders of such grave nature. But the BJP, based on this firm decision of the government fully supports the resolution," said Eshwarappa.

During the course of the short debate, Eshwarappa admitted the BJP did not participate in the recent all party meeting but attributed their absence to the previous all party meetings having seen the state release water.

BCCL

"However, albiet delayed, the decision of the government to call for the special session and pass a resolution to not release further water is well appreciated and accepted by the BJP," he said.

Seven time MLC, Horatti, said his party also supported the decision to not release water for anything else barring that for the drinking purpose of Bengaluru city and the Cauvery basin.

"It is heartening to see the entire state having unified in its struggle on the river crisis of Karnataka, be it the Mahadayi row or the Cauvery issue. The resolution will serve as an example to the entire nation and the JD(S) fully backs this resolution," he said.

BCCL

The resolution reads that the house was aghast with the dipping levels of water in the four Cauvery basin reservoirs and noted that the combined storage levels of Krishna Raja Sagara, Hemavathy, Harangi and Kabini have "reached alarmingly low levels with only 27.6 TMC of water".

The resolution by the house directed the government that in this state of acute distress "it is imperative that the government ensures that no water from the present storage be drawn, save and except for meeting the drinking water requirements of the villages and towns in the Cauvery basin and for the entire city of Bruhat Bengaluru."