Karnataka is unlikely to implement the Supreme Court directive to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water a day to Tamil Nadu from September 21 to 27. A final decision will be taken at a cabinet meeting convened by CM Siddaramaiah on Wednesday. Briefing reporters after the court’s order – which he termed “difficult to enforce” – Siddaramaiah said the meeting will discuss the situation and consider the possibility of not implementing the directive. This will be followed by an all-party meeting.

Citing protests in the Cauvery basin districts in Karnataka, several leaders have suggested to Siddaramaiah the order be defied. “Siddaramaiah, who is under intense pressure, spoke to Congress president Sonia Gandhi on telephone and apprised her of the situation. He told her Karnataka cannot release any more water in view of the drought situation and poor storage levels in the reservoirs,” a source said, indicating that the CM may take a tough decision on Wednesday. Brushing aside Karnataka’s plea that releasing any more Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu would plunge Bengaluru into a drinking water crisis, a bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and UU Lalit directed the Congress government to release 6,000 cusecs daily till September 27.

Karnataka found itself in a piquant situation. It had gone to the court to complain that the Cauvery Supervisory Committee had no authority to direct it to release 3,000 cusecs, but was ordered to release double that amount. Even Tamil Nadu opposed the committee’s order, saying it was too little and would spell doom for its samba crops. If Karnataka defies the SC order, it can be hauled up for contempt. The court can even recommend dismissal of the Siddaramaiah government. In 2002, then chief minister SM Krishna was pulled by the court when he defied its order to release water to Tamil Nadu.He apologized and later released water.