No solution to Cauvery water-sharing row

In protest against the award, Karnataka Chief Minister Jagdish Shettar staged a walkout, saying the state was not ready to give "even a drop of water" to Tamil Nadu.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa spoke in the same vein calling the meeting a "totally disappointed" affair and declared that the state would move the Supreme Court.

On its part, the Centre said the Prime Minister's decision was taken keeping in mind the survival of crops of both the states and maintained it cannot prevent any state from moving court.

After hearing both sides, Singh ruled that Karnataka release 9000 cusecs of water each day for 25 days from tomorrow to October 15 after it refused to accept Tamil Nadu's demand for 2 tmcft water for 24 days or 1 tmcft for 30 days.

"Karnataka was not agreeable to both these demands and said it would not release even a drop of water to Tamil Nadu in these circumstances. The bare minimum water sought by Tamil Nadu was also not accepted," Jayalalithaa told reporters after the meeting.

She said Tamil Nadu was "totally disappointed" with the meeting and added that the state had no option but to knock at the doors of the Supreme Court to seek justice and to save the standing crops.

Shettar said he told the Prime Minister that the state was not in a position to release any water to Tamil Nadu because of severe drought situation in Karnataka.

"But, against our request, the Prime Minister has given a ruling that up to October 15, Karnataka has to release 5000 cusecs of water. That is not good. We have not accepted that. Against that ruling we protested and staged walk out," he told reporters. (More)