Bangalore: In Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced on Saturday that a review petition has been filed before the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) in response to its order directing the state to release 3,000 cusecs of water to neighboring Tamil Nadu. Additionally, a statement from the Chief Minister's office stated that after assessing the situation, a review petition will also be filed before the Supreme Court concerning the CWMA's directive.

Siddaramaiah, along with senior cabinet members, held a meeting with retired Supreme Court judges and the Advocate General to address the ongoing Cauvery water dispute. Earlier, the CWMA upheld the decision of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) and instructed Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu daily until October 15. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar was also present during the meeting regarding the water-sharing issue.

Meanwhile, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya criticized the Congress government for its perceived lackadaisical approach to the issue. Surya alleged that the Congress was dealing with the issue in a "duplicitous manner" to support its INDIA bloc partner, the DMK, in Tamil Nadu. He raised concerns about the lack of coordination between the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister and questioned whether the state government's approach was politically motivated for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Surya emphasized that releasing additional water to Tamil Nadu would severely impact Karnataka's drinking water requirements. He urged the state to present this "grim reality" to the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA). He further highlighted the challenging water situation in Karnataka, citing a 60 percent rainfall deficit and severe drought conditions in 32 out of 34 talukas in the Cauvery basin. Surya underscored the importance of addressing Karnataka's own water crisis before considering additional water release to Tamil Nadu.

The Cauvery water issue has led to protests and a Karnataka Bandh called for by farmer unions and pro-Kannada organizations. Despite Karnataka's efforts to challenge the CWRC's directive, the Supreme Court declined to intervene, resulting in continued tensions over water-sharing in the region. The ongoing dispute raises questions about the effectiveness of the INDIA alliance, as constituent parties like the Congress and DMK clash over regional issues while attempting to address national concerns.

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