M A I N   N E W S

Karnataka to release water

Bangalore, October 27
Ahead of the Supreme Court’s order on the contempt petitions against Chief Minister S M Krishna and others, Karnataka tonight is learnt to have decided to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.

The government did not make any public pronouncement on water release but official sources said a decision had been taken to release the water which would be communicated to the Supreme Court tomorrow when it would come out with the order.

The decision came three days after the apex court hauled up Krishna for “wilfully” disobeying its order on water release and prima facie finding him guilty of contempt.

Official sources said about 2000 to 4000 cusecs of water was being released from Krishnaraja Sagar reservoir and water would start flowing from the Kabini dam from tomorrow.

They said currently the inflows into the four reservoirs in the Cauvery basin — KRS, Kabini, Harangi and Hemavathy was in the order of about 12,000 cusecs and more inflows were expected with continuing rains in Waynad region in Kerala.

Emerging from a brief meeting of the state Council of Ministers, the second held today, Karnataka Information Minister Kagodu Thimappa said “whatever submission we have to make will be made before the Supreme Court by our advocate”.

Asked if the meeting had decided to release water, he said “we’ll not disclose anything. It is sub judice”.

Earlier in the day, the Council of Ministers meeting authorised Krishna to take an appropriate decision following which the Chief Minister held consultations with legal and technical experts. PTI