Karnataka defers release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu

Asks governor to convene one-day assembly session to seek legislators view

Karnataka has deferred release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu and has asked the governor to convene a one-day assembly session to seek legislators view to decide on next steps as the state stares at drinking water shortage to its capital Bengaluru.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah took the decision after a cabinet meeting late on Wednesday to decide on the course of action by the state following the Supreme Court directive to Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of water till September 27. The government has asked Governor Vajubhai Vala to convene the session on September 23, so that legislators across party collectively discuss and take a stand on releasing water from the dams as per the directive of the SC.

On Tuesday, the Apex Court doubled the quantum of water from the 3,000 cusecs suggested earlier by the supervisory committee, led by the Central Water Resources secretary.

"In the all party meeting, only JD(S) attended. BJP MPs and ministers did not attend all party meeting. Not even their opposition leaders in legislature,” said Siddaramaiah.

While Siddaramaiah saw the opposition BJP boycott the meeting on Wednesday, he is also not getting any support from the Centre. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declined to meet Siddaramaiah, who has sought his intervention in the issue. He is also facing a tougher counterpart in J Jayalalithaa, who has refused to engage in talks and keen on settling the issue legally.

Karnataka claims that it has only 28 TMC feet of water in its reservoirs.