Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Thursday, 24 September announced that the state government would file an appeal in court against the order directing it to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, while assuring that the interests of farmers would be fully protected. The announcement was made while speaking to reporters near the helipad of Sirigere Mutt in Chitradurga.

Water Situation on the Ground

Shivakumar underlined that Karnataka's reservoirs were under severe stress, with inflows having stopped and rainfall declining sharply. 'We will release water if there is water. But inflows into our reservoirs have also stopped, and the rains have stopped. There is considerable pressure on us in this matter,' he said. The Chief Minister added that he would assess the water situation and consult the Irrigation Minister before announcing the next course of action. This comes amid a wider agrarian crisis in the state, with a drought-like situation developing across several districts.

Drought Relief Framework Being Prepared

On the drought situation, Shivakumar said the state was preparing a comprehensive framework to support affected farmers and to define the assistance required from the Centre. 'Since a drought-like situation has developed in the state, we need to prepare a plan on how farmers should be assisted and what kind of support is required from the Central government. These issues have also been discussed in the Legislative Assembly. The government will discuss and take the necessary measures,' he said. Notably, the Chief Minister thanked Opposition leaders for cooperating in the proposal to send an all-party delegation to the Centre to highlight Karnataka's concerns.

Western Ghats and Kasturirangan Report

Shivakumar also noted that leaders across political parties had reached a consensus on the state's position regarding the Kasturirangan report and the protection of the Western Ghats, with the interests of the Malnad and coastal regions kept at the forefront. This multi-party alignment on a contentious ecological issue is significant, given that the Kasturirangan report's recommendations have historically triggered political divisions in Karnataka.

Congress Guarantee Schemes Debate

Responding to demands from some Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, including BJP MLA Suresh Gowda, for a review of the Congress government's guarantee schemes, Shivakumar defended the programmes. 'Even though Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several BJP Union ministers and leaders had earlier said that guarantee schemes could not be implemented, the state government will continue to provide assistance to the poor,' he said. The remarks come as the BJP has intensified pressure on the ruling Congress over the fiscal sustainability of its flagship welfare commitments.

KPSC Controversy and Election Council Polls

The Chief Minister addressed the ongoing controversy around the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC), saying suggestions had been received from around 20 to 30 senior leaders, including Ugrappa, B.L. Shankar, Sudarshan, and Rani Satish. He also acknowledged Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy's statement on the matter. 'The legal framework relating to KPSC recruitment and examinations will be examined. It is important that officials and members conducting the examinations are not subjected to any pressure and are ensuring justice for students,' he said. Separately, Shivakumar noted that his visit to the Chitradurga region was partly linked to a farmer felicitation programme connected to water release through the Upper Bhadra project. The Election Commission had scheduled Legislative Council elections, resulting in the cancellation of several government programmes. With the Cauvery dispute heading back to court and the drought framework still being finalised, the coming weeks will be critical for Karnataka's farmers and for the state's relations with the Centre.