Bengaluru: Fearing contempt proceedings from the Supreme Court, the Karnataka government on Monday decided to release water to Tamil Nadu and said it will follow orders on the Cauvery water sharing with neighbouring Tamil Nadu.
Till Monday, Karnataka had refused to oblige with the Supreme Court direction that had asked the state government to release at least 6,000 cusecs of water on a daily basis to Tamil Nadu for six consecutive days.
Yesterday, the Karnataka Cabinet convened a special legislature session to discuss the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. A decision was being considered to file a review petition in the Supreme Court against the formation of the Cauvery Management Board.
However, the government changed its stand after considering that recent rains in the state meant it could afford to share Cauvery river water with Tamil Nadu.
Earlier on Monday, The Supreme Court had questioned the state over its defiance in not releasing the Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, saying the state should "show some bona fide by obeying orders".
The apex court had also asked Karnataka to apprise it by 2 pm on Tuesday whether or not it has released the river water to Tamil Nadu giving strong indication of taking a "harsh" decision.
Last week, the Supreme Court had asked Karnataka to discharge 6,000 cusecs of water from October 1 to 6, saying 'no one would know when the wrath of the law would fall on it'.
