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Karnataka Cabinet nod for stopping water to T.N.

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE SEPT. 19. The Karnataka Cabinet today ratified the Government decision to suspend the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu from the Kabini, Krishnaraja Sagar, Hemavathy, and Harangi reservoirs. The Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna, had held a meeting with the Home Minister, Mallikarjun Kharge, and the Water Resources Minister, H.K. Patil, late on Wednesday night where the decision was taken, owing to sporadic violence in the Cauvery basin districts.

Sources told The Hindu that the decision was not intended to challenge any authority which had directed the release of water, but to restore peace. Based on the directions of the Cauvery River Authority headed by the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, an average of 9000 cusecs of water was being released daily to Tamil Nadu till Wednesday. But in view of the large-scale tension in most parts of Mysore and Mandya districts, the Government thought it necessary to shut the sluice gates of the Kabini. A senior Minister said the situation was quite explosive in the basin districts and consequently, the Government had to take a tough decision.

The Minister for Information, Kagodu Thimmappa, said the Government would be filing an affidavit in the Supreme Court on Monday, September 23, the date fixed for the next hearing on the Cauvery issue in a matter pertaining to a petition submitted by Tamil Nadu. Karnataka had not received any direction from the Centre to stick to the release of 9000 cusecs per day, he added.

The State Government has called for a meeting of the leaders of political parties, farmers' representatives, legal experts and others on Saturday, September 21 in New Delhi to elicit their views and prepare the affidavit to be submitted to the Supreme Court.

Compensation

The Government has announced a compensation of Rs. one lakh to the family of Guruswamy, who along with four others jumped into the Kabini reservoir on Wednesday in protest against the release of water to Tamil Nadu. While the other four were rescued by farmers who witnessed the incident at Beechanahalli, Guruswamy, a gram panchayat member, was drowned. His body was recovered late on Wednesday night.

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