"Tamil Nadu is accusing us for not releasing its share of water. It has said it will approach the Supreme Court. Our government is also ready for the legal battle," he told reporters here.
Stating that he had written to the Prime Minister informing him about the deficit rainfall in the Cauvery catchment area, he said when it had rained the state had released water, but now the situation was such that there will be difficulty to release water even under the distress formula.
Stating that Tamil Nadu should understand the reality, Siddaramaiah questioned, "What should we do when there is no water?"
He said Hemavathi, Harangi, Kabini, Krishnarajasagar reservoirs should have had a total of 114 TMC ft water by now, but there was just 52 TMC ft.
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In that 40 TMC ft should be set aside for drinking water.
"Still we are releasing some amount of water to Tamil Nadu. The issue can be solved if it rains in the days to come," he added.
Violence had erupted in the city on September 12 with
dozens of buses and lorries with Tamil Nadu number plates beingset on fire as mobs vented their fury over reports of some incidents of attack on Kannadigas and their properties there.
It had flared up soon after the apex court gave its amended order, directing Karnataka to release 12000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu till September 20.
Both opposition parties BJP and JD(S) have said that government should not agree to release water to Tamil Nadu.
"The state government must say it is well-nigh impossible due to existing circumstances and stick to this stance in the interest of the people in general and farmers in particular," he said.