Mysuru: Deputy Commissioner D. Randeep and Cauvery Neeravari Nigama MD Shivashankar and other officials held a meeting to look into the protest by JD(S) MLA Sa.Ra. Mahesh and other leaders at the CADA (Cauvery) office premises this morning and appealed them to withdraw their protest.

The officials said that the irrigation department had gathered information regarding the water storage and rainfall and added they were waiting for the instructions from the higher authorities, which was expected after the Cauvery Advisory Committee meeting in Bengaluru.

Meanwhile,  MLA Sa.Ra. Mahesh ruled out withdrawing the protest and said it would continue until the Government decided to release water to canals and stop the release of water to Tamil Nadu.

He said the officials decided sitting at their offices in Bengaluru but it was the representatives, who had to face the wrath of the people every day.  Stating that State Government was releasing water only to retain power, he instructed the officials to advise the Government to submit an affidavit to the Supreme Court stating the State was facing severe drought and it was not possible to release water. Mayor M.J. Ravikumar, Former Mayor R. Lingappa, JD(S) Corporators Kempanna, K.T. Cheluvegowda and SBM Manju, farmers and others were present.