Chennai (Tamil Nadu): Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader TKS Elangovan on Friday alleged ongoing protests in Karnataka against the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu to be “just political”.
Elangovan said that the Cauvery is not Karnataka’s property, further alleging that the state government is “submitting” to local politics.
"The Karnataka BJP leaders are provoking the government of Karnataka not to release water and because of local politics, the ruling party is also submitting to that. Cauvery is not the property of Karnataka that they should know. Cauvery water wherever it runs, water should be given to every state and particularly to lower riparian states. The strike is just political," Elangovan said.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Water Resources Minister Duraimurugan said that the state will appeal to the Supreme Court to order the release of 5000 cusecs of water.
"We will again demand the release of 5000 cusecs of water from Karnataka...We will appeal to the Supreme Court and they will direct the Karnataka government,” Duraimurugan said while speaking to reporters in Chennai.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had earlier expressed his disappointment on the recommendation of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) which has directed Karnataka to ensure the release of 3000 cusecs of Cauvery water at Biligundlu starting from September 28 up to October 15, 2023.
“Cauvery Water Regulatory Committee (CWRC) ordered to release 3000 cusecs of water, I have already spoken to our advocates. They have suggested us to challenge this order in the Supreme Court. We will challenge it in the Supreme Court. We don't have water to release to Tamil Nadu. We are challenging the orders of the CWRC,” CM Siddaramaiah had said.