D K Shivakumar Says Karnataka Will Appeal in Court Over Cauvery Water Release to Tamil Nadu
Chitradurga/Bengaluru: Karnataka will file an appeal in court over the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said on Thursday, citing a halt in inflows and rainfall.
Speaking to reporters near the Sirigere Mutt helipad in Chitradurga, Shivakumar said the state was under considerable pressure over the issue. “We will release water if it is available. But inflows have stopped for us too, and the rain has stopped,” he said.
He said he would review the water situation and discuss it with the irrigation minister before announcing the next course of action.
Drought assistance and farmers’ interests
Shivakumar said a plan needed to be drawn up on assistance for farmers facing drought and the support Karnataka required from the Union government. These issues had been discussed in the Assembly, and the government would deliberate on the necessary measures, he said.
He thanked opposition leaders for supporting efforts to take an all-party delegation to the Union government.
On the Kasturirangan report and protection of the Western Ghats, he said leaders of different parties had backed the state government’s resolution, which took into account the interests of the Malnad and coastal regions. The government was working to protect farmers’ interests and uphold the trust placed in it, he said.
Guarantee schemes to continue supporting the poor
Asked about BJP leaders’ comments on revising the guarantee schemes, Shivakumar said BJP MLA Suresh Gowda and some other opposition legislators had suggested restricting benefits to the poor. Different leaders had their own views, he said.
He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several BJP leaders had earlier questioned whether the guarantees could be implemented, but the state government would continue its work to support the poor.
KPSC decisions after legal review
On Karnataka Public Service Commission recruitment and examinations, Shivakumar said around 20–30 senior leaders, including Ugrappa, B L Shankar, Sudarshan and Rani Satish, had conveyed their views to the government. He said he had also taken note of former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy’s comments.
The legal framework governing KPSC recruitment and examinations would be examined before further decisions were taken, he said. Officials and members conducting examinations should work free of pressure and ensure justice for candidates who had performed well in competitive examinations, he added.
Conducting examinations and interviews fairly was the responsibility of those concerned, he said, adding that past incidents had prompted suggestions from several people.
Shivakumar also said government programmes had been cancelled after the Election Commission fixed dates for Legislative Council elections. Farmers had organised a felicitation programme following Upper Bhadra works and the release of water in the Hiriyur and Chitradurga areas, he said.
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