Karnataka has been "facing injustice" over the issue of sharing Cauvery water for a long time, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Monday after heading a state Cabinet meeting to discuss the matter. He also announced a Rs 10-lakh compensation for the family of the youth who was killed in police firing in Bengaluru on Monday, which followed protests by locals.
Siddaramaiah said the Supreme Court had directed Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu every day till September 20 because the state could not implement its order from September 5, according to ANI. The top court had earlier directed them to release 15,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to the neighbouring state.
The chief minister added, "It is difficult to implement the order, but we will make sure that there is enough drinking water for Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mandya and other places in the Cauvery basin region." He also appealed for the media's help in restoring normalcy in the state. "Please join hands with the government," he said.
While he said Karnataka had acquiesced and released water to Tamil Nadu for six days, he emphasised that it was not right of people to "take law into their own hands" and urged them not to cause damage to public property. "The [Supreme Court] order is hard to follow, but we'll still do it," he said.
So far, 350 people have been arrested for vandalism, based on video footage from TV channels and the police. "Violence is not the solution to any problem...Once again, I appeal to all to please cooperate," Siddaramaiah said, adding that he hopes to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, September 14.
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