Chamarajanagar (Karnataka) [India], March 13 (HBTV): Facing a severe water shortage, the Karnataka government has said that it will not be in a position to release water to Tamil Nadu even if the centre asks it to do so.            

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramiah said this on Tuesday after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) held a protest at Bengaluru's freedom park against the shortage of water in the state’s capital. 

Denying allegations by the BJP that the Karnataka government was releasing water from the Cauvery River to Tamil Nadu, the Karnataka chief minister said "That's all lie what BJP is saying, we can release water only if we have water. That's a lie. When we don't have water to release, we don't even give a single drop of water to Tamil Nadu or any others. Even Tamil Nadu didn't ask for water."   

Siddaramaiah said that his state will not be releasing water to Tamil Nadu even if the Center directs it to do so.  

"We don't have water to release. There is no question of releasing water. Even if Tamil Nadu asks or the Center tells us to release (water) we'll not release. We will not give water whoever it may be," the chief minister said. 

According to local reports, water sources in many villages across the state have dried up. The problem has been further compounded by the depletion of groundwater and the drying up of more than 3,000 bore wells in the capital city.