Urbanites facing threat of drinking water crisis: Min

Mandya: Cauvery River Water Management Authority (CRWA) has been appraised of the fact related to Cauvery river water sharing, agriculture minister N Cheluvarayaswamy said on Friday, even as he reiterated the state’s request to the authority to withdraw its recent order to release 5,000 cusecs of water every day for a period of 15 days.Speaking to reporters, the minister said the crops in the Cauvery catchment area in Karnataka are damaged owing to scanty rainfall. “Urbanites are also facing the threat of drinking water crisis,” he stated.The state government was also planning to move the Supreme Court over the issue, as it was not possible to release water, as water levels in reservoirs have depleted. He also expressed confidence about the authority issuing orders in favour of Karnataka considering the actual facts.Besides rejecting BJP’s allegations about the state government’s alleged negligence over water management, the minister hit back, saying the saffron party did not attend the all-party meeting convened by the government to discuss the issue.Commenting about the possible coalition between BJP and JD(S), the minister said there was no unity among the leaders within BJP, because of which there was a delay in naming an opposition leader. “With no unity among themselves, they have now decided to form a coalition with JD(S),” he said.

TN parties slam Karnataka govts refusal to release 5,000 cusecs of Cauvery water

Political parties in Tamil Nadu have criticized the Karnataka government's refusal to release 5,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for the next 15 days as per the directive of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee. The parties have expressed solidarity with the farmers of Tamil Nadu and have called for an all-party meeting to address the issue. The statement by Karnataka's deputy chief minister that water will not be released to Tamil Nadu has been condemned.

Cauvery water issue: Duraimurugan rejects bilateral talks, says no plans for all-party meeting too

Tamil Nadu water resources minister, Duraimurugan, has rejected the idea of chief ministerial-level talks to resolve the Cauvery dispute. He believes that such talks would cause Tamil Nadu to lose its legal weapon. Duraimurugan also ruled out an all-party meeting ahead of the Supreme Court hearing on September 21. He stated that Karnataka has consistently opposed Tamil Nadu's efforts in the past, but they will continue to fight for their rights.

BJPs Ashwath Narayan slams state govt for releasing water

Former minister CN Ashwath Narayan criticized the Congress government for its irresponsible behavior regarding the Cauvery issue. He accused the government of adopting anti-farmer policies by releasing water to Tamil Nadu and failing to convince the Supreme Court. Narayan also claimed that the government has failed to address the issue of drinking water shortage that was not a problem during the BJP government's tenure. He ridiculed the government for shifting the blame onto the Centre and avoiding taking responsibility.