Bangalore:
The pressure is mounting in Karnataka against the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu as directed by the Supreme Court. Complying with the top court's directives, the state government began releasing water late on Saturday night, but this has not gone down well with farmers' groups in Mandya and Mysore districts who continue the agitation they started some weeks ago when Tamil Nadu first asked for two tmc feet of water a day.
All parties in Karnataka have the same stand on this issue - that water should not be released - and the Janata Dal (Secular) is contemplating the resignation of its elected representatives from the region.
"Our farmers are in much difficulty. Our party has declared for our Mandya MLAs to resign at this juncture to support our agitation from Mandya district. Former Prime Minister Deve Gowda is meeting the Prime Minister today. He will explain the problem we are facing in Karnataka. Tomorrow all our party MLAs will sit and discuss with our former Prime Minister whether we have to resign all MLAs we have to resign at this juncture," JD(S) leader and former Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy said.
Meanwhile, security has been intensified near the KRS and Kabini dams to prevent protesters from gathering there. Tourists are also not being allowed to go near the KRS dam. Groups in Mandya, Mysore and Chamarajanagar districts protested against the release of water - even though the release was in line with a Supreme Court directive.
Police said about 100 people were taken into custody when they squatted on the tracks and detained the Mysore-Shiradi express at Gejjalagere village.
Vehicular movement on the Bangalore-Mysore road continued to remain disrupted for the third consecutive day, they said.
Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar had told reporters on Sunday it was "inevitable" for government to release water to comply with the Apex Court order, but that the state was committed to protect the interests of farmers.
He had also said the state would file a petition before the Supreme Court, seeking a review of its order asking the state to honour the Cauvery River Authority directive to release 9,000 cusecs to Tamil Nadu till Oct 15.
Karnataka has already urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, also the CRA Chairman, to review its Sept 19 order and keep it in abeyance till the decision was reviewed. The state wants the Prime Minister to send a team to study the ground situation in Karnataka.
(With inputs from Agencies)