BENGALURU:  The State’s legal team will on Monday file a petition in the Supreme Court seeking modification of its order to release water at the rate of 15,000 cusecs a day for 10 days. The government harbours greater hopes of relief by convincing the Cauvery Supervisory Committee of the “distress situation” in Karnataka, during its visit to the riparian States to assess the ground reality later.

Implementing the apex court directive, despite distress and protests, could go in favour of the State when furthering hearings on the Cauvery dispute come up before the Supreme Court’s Special Bench on October 18, said sources in the Secretariat.

Meanwhile, protests continued for the second day in Mandya district, paralysing transport between Mysuru and Bengaluru. Farmers in Srirangapatna protested by getting into the river, and one farmers was rescued after he was carried away by the currents.

Another group of farmers that tried to storm into the high-security Kabini dam area was detained.

Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah appealed for peace, through an All India Radio broadcast, and explained the compelling circumstances under which water had to be released. He also promised to advance the schedule of release of water to the Cauvery basin farmers in Karnataka.

Bureau Report