Jayalalithaa holds high-level meeting

At the meeting in Chennai attended by four ministers and five department secretaries at the Secretariat, the government is understood to have discussed the points to be submitted with the supervisory committee to get the stipulated quantum of 50 tmcft. The hour-long meeting also discussed the prevailing law and order situation in the inter-state border, where bus operations were suspended fearing violent backlash. 

“They (Karnataka) are aware that they cannot challenge the Supreme Court order directing them to release 15,000 cusec. We learnt that they are planning to move a fresh petition to reduce the water quantum. If they move such a review petition, we will challenge it,” a senior government source told DTNext. 

Asked if the government would approach the Supreme Court again to get 50tmcft due from Karnataka, the source said that chief minister’s office may give instructions to Tamil Nadu counsel in New Delhi early Wednesday. Experts here said the priority should be on putting pressure on Karnataka to release the quantum ordered by the Supreme Court. 

Karnataka Chief Ministr Siddharamiah likewise held an all party meeting of senior ministers, legal experts and officials and MPs on Tuesday evening, a day after the apex court directive to Karnataka to release 15,000 cusec to Tamil Nadu everyday for ten days to address the plight of the farmers in the delta districts. 

Meanwhile in Mandya district agitating farmers and activists belonging to pro-Kannada outfits blocked Bengaluru-Mysuru Highway as protests intensified in the wake of the Supreme Court directiv. Mandya district, the nucleus of Cauvery politics, saw a huge bandh, as hundreds of security personnel, including Central forces, were deployed in the Cauvery belt to maintain law and order. 

Prohibitory orders were clamped around Krishna Raja Sagar dam and entry of visitors to it prohibited till September 9. Buses also stopped plying. Protests were also held in Mysuru and Hassan districts. Venting their anger, protesters burnt the effigy of Jayalalithaa at several places.