Cauvery dispute: Karnataka hopes for justice

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], Oct. 19 (ANI): Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara on Wednesday expressed hope that the state would get justice on the Cauvery water dispute. Speaking ahead of the all-party meeting called by Karnataka Chief Minister K. Siddaramaiah, Parameshwara said that they would discuss in detail as to what best can be done on this matter. "We are hoping that we get justice, we always go before the Supreme Court with that kind of a mindset. But unfortunately we are been hard-pressed like this," Parameshwara told ANI. Earlier in the day, Congress leader N.A Harris said the water is scant in Karnataka with a modicum of it left for drinking purposes. He also said that the report accurately showcases the state's water scarcity. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court will today resume its hearing on the Cauvery water dispute after it directed the Karnataka Government to release 2,000 cusecs per day to Tamil Nadu till further orders are given. The Karnataka Government has in response filed a petition asking for larger constitutional bench to be constituted to look into the dispute. A bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra, Amitava Roy and AM Khanwilkar are presently hearing the case. The GS Jha-led Supreme Court appointed team had on Monday submitted its report before the apex court after inspecting the Krishnaraja Sagar and the Kabini dams in Karnataka, and the Mettur and Bhavani Sagar dams in Tamil Nadu. The high-level central technical team also interacted with the Public Works Department (PWD) officials and delta farmers in Thanjavur Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur districts. The farmers in Tiruchirapalli and delta regions told the team that the samba crop will be damaged if water from the Cauvery is not released by Karnataka. The committee has stated 42 of the 48 talukas of Karnataka in the Cauvery basin have been affected by drought. The team was constituted as per orders of the apex court to assess the realities in the Cauvery basin areas in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. (ANI)