The Karnataka government will move the Supreme Court on Monday seeking more time to release Cauvery water to neighbouring Tamil Nadu, The Hindu reported. The Siddaramaiah-led government will ask the court to modify its interim order on the issue directing the state to release 6,000 cusecs every day to Tamil Nadu from September 21 to 27.

A legal team representing the state is expected to inform the court of Karnataka’s inability to follow its directive. The team will also submit to the court a copy of the unanimous resolution passed by the state Assembly, which said that water from the Cauvery will not be drawn for any other purpose than drinking. However, in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, Siddaramaiah said the state government “has no intention to disregard any of the honourable Supreme Court”.

Meanwhile, Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy urged the Karnataka government to adhere to the apex court’s order and release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, the Business Standard reported. The Congress chief minister also called on the party’s government in the state to protect the life of Tamil-speaking people. Separately, the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in Tamil Nadu criticised the Siddaramaiah government for defying the court’s order on the issue. “This will set a bad precedence,” said AIADMK leader CR Saraswati.

On September 5, the Supreme Court had asked Karnataka to release 15,000 cusecs of water from the river to Tamil Nadu, but it later modified its order and reduced the quantity to 12,000 cusecs. The court verdict had led to widespread protests carried out by farmers in Karnataka, who argued that the state needed the water more that its neighbour. Tamil Nadu had also held a bandh on September 16, with farmers’ and traders’ bodies saying Tamilians had been targeted by Kannadiga protestors. The court on September 20 arrived at a new figure – 6,000 cusecs – but the Karnataka government refused to carry out the order.