A day ahead of the crucial Supreme Court hearing on the Cauvery river water issue, Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar was confident on Sunday that the apex court would stay its earlier order asking Karnataka to release 9,000 cusecs of Cauvery water daily to Tamil Nadu.
Before heading to New Delhi from the Hubli airport to discuss the Cauvery issue with Karnataka’s senior counsel Fali S. Nariman, Mr Shettar said the central team that visited the state and Tamil Nadu had been convinced that the state would face extremely difficult situation if any more water is released to Tamil Nadu. He said the legal expert team from the central government has been briefed about the drought-like condition and drinking water problems in the state.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to meet leaders from Karnataka, including external affairs minister S.M. Krishna, power minister Veerappa Moily and BJP leader Ananth Kumar, on Monday. Cauvery Hitarakshana Samiti chairman G. Madegowda warned: “The state government better succeed in convincing the Supreme Court this time, else the river basin will explode.” He said that if the state falters again and the SC rules in favour of Tamil Nadu, the agitation may no longer be peaceful. “The protestors may go out of control.”
He said the committee will meet on Monday once the apex court pronounces its verdict and decide future course of action. Mr Shettar said Mr Nariman, with more than three decades of legal experience, is the right counsel to represent the state’s case. “Officials and legal experts have held several rounds of discussions on the line of argument to be taken up before the SC. We will brief the court about the protests in the state after water was released to Tamil Nadu,” he said.
He appealed to the farmers in the Cauvery basin areas to maintain peace for two days, till the state government comes out with a clear stand after the SC pronounces its verdict. “Water resources minister Basavaraj Bommai and law minister Suresh Kumar are accompanying me to Delhi,” he added.