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Karnataka begins releasing Cauvery water

Fakir Chand in Bangalore

Karnataka on Monday morning started releasing Cauvery waters to Tamil Nadu from the Krishna Raja Sagar and Kabini reservoirs near Mysore

Though the state government is maintaining silence on the issue, irrigation officials confirmed to rediff.com that Cauvery water has started flowing into Mettur reservoir in Tamil Nadu through the Biligundly gauging point.

"About 10,000 cusecs of water is being released. On account of greater inflows during the last fortnight, the storage levels in all the four reservoirs across the river basin are sufficient enough to share 3-5tmcft [thousand million cubic feet] of water with Tamil Nadu," officials said.

The release of water assumes significance in the backdrop of the contempt case filed by Tamil Nadu against the state for not releasing Cauvery waters, on which the Supreme Court is set to pronounce its judgment today.

"Karnataka will make its submission when the Supreme Court takes up the hearing later in the day on releasing water, and offer unconditional apology for its omissions and commissions, including committing contempt by not wilfully obeying its earlier orders," state government sources disclosed.

State Law Minister D B Chandra Gowda and state Advocate General A N Jayaram are in Delhi to file the affidavit in the SC and witness the case hearing, to be followed by the final orders.

Meanwhile, tension is building up in the Mandya and Mysore region in protest against releasing water. The police have rushed reinforcements to maintain law and order in the volatile districts across the Cauvery river basin.

Train and bus services between Bangalore and Mysore have been suspended on Monday as a precautionary measure. A two-day holiday has been declared for schools and colleges in Mandya district from Monday.

The police has also clamped prohibitory orders and imposed section 144, banning assembly of five or more persons in public places.

About 3000 Central Reserve Police Force and Rapid Action Force jawans are keeping a tight vigil in and around the Kabini and KRS reservoirs to prevent farmers from causing damage to the crest gates and other machinery.

Cauvery Water Dispute: The Complete Coverage

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