Karnataka Farmers Hold Candlelight Vigil In Protest Against Cauvery Water Release To Tamil Nadu

A group of farmers in Karnataka's Mandya district have chosen a distinctive way to voice their dissent against the release of Cauvery waters to Tamil Nadu. Illuminating the night with candlelight, they've embarked on an all-night vigil that began earlier on wednesday, near Srirangapatna. This unconventional demonstration comes as a response to the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee's suggestion that Karnataka should channel 5000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days. Interestingly, Independent MLA Darshan Puttanaiah, known for his affiliation with the Congress, has thrown his weight behind this event, NDTV reported.

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar is gearing up for a journey to the capital city, Delhi, scheduled for today, where he aims to delve into the intricacies of the Cauvery water issue.

On the flip side, Tamil Nadu has knocked on the doors of the Supreme Court, seeking its authoritative intervention to pressurize Karnataka into opening the Cauvery floodgates. In response, Karnataka has submitted an affidavit arguing that the Tribunal's directive was founded on a misconstrued assumption about the monsoon conditions, which, in actuality, didn't hold true.

Notably, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has underlined the inherent challenge in yielding the water, expressing concerns that it would deplete the state's reservoirs and lead to an impending crisis of potable water.

Looking ahead to his Delhi sojourn, DK Shivakumar has preemptively outlined his strategy. The scheduled hearing for Tamil Nadu's plea on Cauvery water is marked for Friday. He pointed out the state's proactive role in negotiation, revealing that while Tamil Nadu's demand hovered around 24-25 TMC, Karnataka's offer stood at 3,000 cusecs.

Shivakumar underscored his intention to advocate for the state's predicament in court, aiming to recalibrate the water-sharing equation with Tamil Nadu. He likened this effort to a shield for the state's farming community and their vested interests. The enduring tussle over Cauvery water between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu has etched itself in history, dating back several decades. The saga prompted the central authorities to constitute the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal in 1990, marking a significant milestone in the chronicles of their prolonged discord.