Karnataka   

Meeting in Mandya today to assess tribunal order

Special Correspondent

Stray protests in Mandya district; trains detained in Hassan district

MANDYA: Political leaders and representatives of farmers were guarded in their reaction to the final verdict of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, which gave its ruling on Monday, even as a few stray incidents of protests were reported from across the district.

There was an undercurrent of tension in Mandya and surrounding areas, and the Cauvery Hitarakshana Samiti has called a meeting of farmers, elected representatives and others on Tuesday to assess the verdict in its entirety before deciding on what is to be done.

The meeting, convened by samiti president G. Made Gowda, will be held at the Silver Jubilee Park at 11 a.m. The former Chief Minister S. Bangarappa, the former Irrigation Minister H.N. Nanje Gowda, Tejaswini Ramesh, MP, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha President K.S. Puttanaiah and others will attend. "We will study the final verdict and discuss its pros and cons before giving our reaction, and if we perceive that injustice has been done to Karnataka, we will launch an agitation and continue our struggle in a peaceful manner following Gandhian principles. If our interests are found to be upheld, we will thank the tribunal," said Mr. Made Gowda.

An eerie calm prevailed in the town in the run-up to the pronouncement of the verdict, and the tension gave way to anger and confusion when reports trickled in that Tamil Nadu's share of Cauvery water was 419 tmcft while Karnataka's share was pegged at 270 tmcft.

This created an impression that the State had been directed to release 419 tmcft of water to Tamil Nadu. Buses stayed off the road and students and farmers blocked the Bangalore-Mysore highway before it was clarified that Tamil Nadu's share of 419 tmcft did not mean that Karnataka had to release that amount of water. Superintendent of Police, Mandya, B.S. Prakash told The Hindu that the police detained over 25 Karnataka Rakshana Vedike activists in Mandya.

Trains detained

Hassan Staff Correspondent writes:

Karnataka Rakshana Vedike activists detained trains at Hassan, Holenarsipur and Arsikere .The Arsikere-Mysore Express was detained at the Hassan railway station from more than an hour and at the Holenarsipur railway station for half an hour. The Hubli-Bangalore Inter-city express was held up at the Arsikere. When the agitators did not allow the train to leave the Hassan station, RPF personnel removed the agitators.

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