Government should stop supplying Cauvery water to TN – S. P. Changappa

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Oct 4, 2012: Addressing reporters at a press conference held at Press Club on Oct 4, Thursday, S. P. Changappa, president of the Mangalore Bar Association, and convener of Cauvery Horata Samithi, said that supply of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu must be stopped immediately. 

Further, he said that Karnataka has been releasing 9000 cusecs daily from September 29, Sunday according to the Supreme Court order. Thousands of farmers based in Mandya, Mysore, and Chamrajnagar, who depend on Cauvery water for agriculture, are upset about the government’s decision to release water from the K. R. Sagar and Kabini dams to Tamil Nadu. He said that these regions will face 30% scarcity of water and will have a serious effect on crops.

Referring to the state government as “irresponsible” for releasing water to Tamil Nadu, he flayed the government for its failure to safeguard the interests of farmers living in the Cauvery basin. He also warned that a similar situation might arise for Nethravathi River. 

He criticized CM Jagadish Shettar for walking out of the meeting held to discuss this crucial issue.
He announced that the Cauvery Horata Samithi and other associations will organize a protest rally from Bautagudda to Hampankatta through Jyothi at 12 noon on Oct 6 and block the road near Hampankatta signal at 12:30 p.m. 

Dayanand Payyade, co-convener of the samithi, Mohan Nekkaremar, working president, Shridhar Shetty, Sanjeeva Poojary, and Pradeep Kumar were also present at the press conference.